Manchester City icon Nicky Weaver believes Ederson‘s ball-playing ability has taken goalkeeping to “another level.”
The Brazilian shot-stopper has drawn widespread adulation for his neat footwork and brilliant passing range since relocating to the Etihad, forging a formidable reputation between the sticks under Pep Guardiola.
Has Ederson set an example for goalkeepers? Five things to know…
- Ederson has been instrumental to City’s dominance since joining from Benfica for £35m in June 2017.
- Conceded just 27 goals as City cantered to the Premier League title last season, registering the best goal difference in the competition’s history.
- Became the first Manchester City goalkeeper in Premier League history to record an assist.
- Further registered the highest number of passes last season with 738.
- His performances last term also seem to have prompted an influx of ball-playing ‘keepers over the summer with Alisson and Kepa Arrizabalaga moving across to English soil.
Ederson is often seen as the first outlet in City’s attacking play with his quick distribution and unwavering composure key elements to his game, and former City goalkeeper Weaver, suggests the club’s current No 1 is setting a trend for goalkeepers who are more proficient at playing out from the back.
“I think goalkeeping has changed a lot, football has changed a lot. It’s all about systems now,” Weaver told Omnisport (via Goal).
“The role of a goalkeeper has changed over the past couple of years – I think it’s even changed over the past few months since the World Cup.
“If you look at City, the way they play out with Ederson. He’s the best I’ve ever seen with his feet. He’s unbelievable.
“The thing with Ederson is not how much confidence he’s got – he’s obviously got lots – it’s how much confidence the players and defenders have in him because they give it back to him under pressure constantly.”
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Despite his scintillating performances in the City goal, Ederson has largely played second fiddle to Alisson in the Brazil national team, with the former recently admitting the Liverpool gloveman is “one step ahead” of him.
However, Ederson was given a starting berth as Brazil beat Cameroon 1-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night, marking only his second cap with a clean sheet.
Ederson’s moment of magic
Weaver went on to laud a particular moment in the Manchester derby that really caught his eye as Ederson produced another stellar performance in the 3-1 win.
“In the first few minutes of the game, someone rolled him the ball back and he trapped it under his foot,” he said. “He’s about two yards off his line in the middle of his goal. There’s a [United] player about four yards away from him.
“He’s clipped it with his left foot over one of the strikers and dropped it into Kyle Walker’s chest at right-back.
“Most goalkeepers would have just hoofed it out of play. Occasionally he will get caught but, to watch him… it’s taking goalkeeping to another level.
“I’ve watching him live quite a few times and he could probably play left-back if he wanted. He’s got such good feet.”
Weaver now believes the standards Ederson has set from a ball-playing perspective should function as the blueprint for any youngster looking to reach elite level football.
He added: “I think Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have changed the way football in this country is played.”
“We’ve got a Dutch manager [Jos Luhukay] at Sheffield Wednesday – he likes to play out from the back. We do a lot with our feet in training.
“For me, the most important part will always be keeping the ball out of the net. But at the elite level – you look at Jordan Pickford with England – you’ve got to be able to use your feet.
“If you’re a young goalkeeper who wants to get to the top, you’ve got to be strong in all departments and be really comfortable with both feet.”
The post Man City’s Ederson hailed for taking goalkeeping to “another level” appeared first on Squawka News.
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