Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, recently shed light on the decision to leave Ederson out of the starting lineup for their match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Following the international break, City faced Roberto De Zerbi’s team, ultimately securing a 2-1 victory with goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland. However, the absence of Ederson from the starting eleven raised questions and prompted Guardiola to address the issue.
When questioned about Ederson’s absence, Guardiola responded, stating, “He could play, but we decided to give him a little rest.” This explanation came as a surprise, considering Ederson had played every minute of Premier League action for Manchester City that season. Furthermore, Ederson had also featured in Brazil’s recent international matches against Venezuela and Uruguay, completing the full 90 minutes in both games. Guardiola’s decision to rest him in the match against Brighton can be understood in light of these demanding circumstances.
Ederson’s performance in the Premier League this season has been noteworthy. He faced 16 shots on goal in his eight appearances and managed to block 11 of them, resulting in an impressive save percentage of 62.5%. Despite his absence, Stefan Ortega Moreno stepped in as the goalkeeper for the match against Brighton, making his first Premier League appearance of the year. Ortega Moreno’s performance included two crucial saves that contributed to Manchester City’s victory.
While Ederson’s absence was unusual, it appears to be a well-thought-out decision by Guardiola to provide the Brazilian goalkeeper with a much-needed break after a strenuous start to the season and his recent international commitments. With this rest, it’s likely that Ederson will return to the starting lineup in the near future, ensuring he remains in peak condition to continue his remarkable contributions to Manchester City’s campaign.
