So far this 2020/21 season, Manchester City have missed 3 of the 7 penalties they have taken. A 57.1% effectiveness (very low percentage in the elite). Kevin De Bruyne missed, Raheem Sterling failed and now Ilkay Gundogan has joined the list of players who have hesitated to step into the penalty spot.
A few months ago, Pep Guardiola joked that he was considering the option of sending Ederson to collect the maximum penalties. Well, the comment went from being a total joke, to being ‘half a joke’. In the appearance after the win sky blue (1-4) against Liverpool, the Catalan coach said that he will value the Brazilian goalkeeper as possible penalty-taker.
“When I mentioned that 6 months ago, it was a joke. Now it’s half a joke. I will consider whether he will no longer be a joke and will be a pitcher. We do not have a true specialist in this area, as Salah is, for example. And in these instances, in these scenarios, missing a penalty punishes you a lot ”.
In the talk with the BBC, you picked up Goal, Pep confirmed taking Ederson into account: “It is a problem that we have (penalties). In important moments, we cannot fail, and it doesn’t matter who the pitcher is. Again, I’m going to think about Ederson, he might be the collector next time. “
Although, beware, De Bruyne and Gundogan are not sentenced: “We have to talk about this issue. I still think Kevin (De Bruyne) is a great pitcher and that Gundogan is too. What I want is the boy who has the personality to say I’m going to take a penalty and I’m going to score it. That is what I want”.
In November 2020, Ederson had already signed up, huh: “I don’t train fouls because they are more difficult, but I do take penalties. When I played for Ribeirao I took some fouls, which the coach left me. But that time is over and now we have good pitchers. On penalties I am the best shooter, but they do not designate me to shoot them (laughs) ”.
Undefeated Data. Ederson has been a Manchester City goalkeeper since the 2017/18 season. Right now, he is the goalkeeper with the most undefeated goals (13) in this Premier League.
Did you know…? Ederson holds the Guinness Record for the longest goal kick on record: 75.35 meters.