Since becoming a Manchester City player in the summer of 2017, Ederson has etched his reputation as arguably the finest ball-playing goalkeeper in the world.
After Claudio Bravo’s struggles in possession during the 2016/17 season, the Brazilian international’s arrival was a breath of fresh air.
Despite being a relatively unknown commodity during his time at Benfica, the 29 year-old has always been the archetypal Pep Guardiola goalkeeper from day one.
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One aspect of Ederson on the ball that makes him stand out from the rest is his astounding composure in pressure situations.
The Brazilian international is known to take a whole number of risks with his passing, despite the potential danger of opponents recycling possession and creating a goal-bound chance.
Despite Ederson being extremely reliable in possession, there are moments where his laidback approach leads to the Sky Blues supporters having their hearts in their mouths.
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An instance that stands out in particular occurred during Manchester City’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April of this year.
After receiving a routine back-pass, the four-time Premier League champion initially kicked his foot into the ground, which meant the ball was trickling towards the back of the net.
Instead of scrambling to save a potential howler of an own goal from transpiring, the ice-cold Ederson stood firm and played a calm pass, despite Diogo Jota putting in a desperate sliding tackle to score a goal.
While the Sky Blue number one’s incredible composure was lauded by many, a matter of inches dictated the state of a potential title decider where both sides eventually shared the spoils.
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Ederson’s wife, knowing her husband’s relaxed approach all too well, gave him a key word of advice.
“Don’t wait for your opponent to get too close before you touch the ball,” she said in episode four of the ‘Together: Champions Again!’ documentary.
In most instances however, the former Rio Ave shotstopper tends to come out on top in such high-pressure situations.
While most opposition sides try to press the decorated goalkeeper into making a mistake, their efforts are rendered futile.
His incredible passing and understanding with his teammates means he remains unflustered in such situations.
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Despite Manchester City supporters not wishing Ederson to continue to give them nightmares, the eccentric number one is likely to for years to come.
Topics: Ederson, Manchester City, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Football
