Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reaffirmed Ederson as the club's number one goalkeeper despite his decision to bench him for the Premier League clash against Liverpool.
This decision came after Ederson was partly blamed for Manchester City's defensive collapse in a UEFA Champions League match against Feyenoord, where they conceded three goals in the final 15 minutes, resulting in a 3-3 draw.
Guardiola clarified that the choice to start Stefan Ortega Moreno over Ederson at Anfield was not due to these errors but rather a tactical decision to try something different.
He emphasized, "Ederson is the number one, Stefan [Ortega Moreno] is the number two, yeah." The German international Ortega made several crucial saves during the match, helping City remain competitive.
Despite the temporary change, Guardiola assured that Ederson remains integral to the team, highlighting their long-standing relationship of eight to nine years. The Brazilian goalkeeper, who joined Manchester City from Benfica in July 2017, has been a pivotal figure in the team's success, known for his exceptional reflexes and distribution skills.
As Manchester City prepares to face Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola has called on both players and fans to help "change the dynamic" amid the team's current slump, having gone seven consecutive matches without a win. The manager stressed the importance of the supporters' role in overcoming this challenging period.
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