Guardiola’s Actions at Full Time Indicate Man City’s New First Choice Keeper

Manchester: Pep Guardiola was quick to approach three players after the match at Brentford. The squad was still processing the game’s outcome. City had a solid two-goal lead, and fans were buzzing about winning four games in a row. But then, a sudden collapse in the last ten minutes changed everything.

It felt more like their previous struggles than the recent wins. Questions arose about Manu Akanji’s role in the goals conceded. Matheus Nunes played okay at right-back, but could he have taken a shot when he had the chance? The midfield seemed wide open again, and Guardiola agreed with Phil Foden that the team looked tired towards the end.

This is worrying since City had just played three games in 16 days, including one against a lower league team where Guardiola made nine changes. They should have been fresh, even with injuries piling up. After the match, Guardiola chatted with Savinho and Josko Gvardiol, but his most intense conversation was with goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

Ortega seemed a bit shy as Guardiola hugged him and made his point. The manager praised Ortega’s performance, saying he was pleased with how he played and passed to Erling. Guardiola often uses these moments to share his thoughts right after the game.

Ortega might be disappointed about not saving Christian Norgaard’s late equalizer, but he generally did well after stepping in for Ederson. The Manchester Evening News rated him a 6/10, noting he kept cool under pressure but fumbled the equalizer.

With Ederson back, Ortega has still kept his spot in the Premier League, while Ederson is now the cup goalkeeper. The difference between them is clear: Ederson is better with the ball, while Ortega is a stronger shot-stopper. Ortega completed 31 of 38 passes at Brentford, showing improvement despite a few shaky moments.

Ederson hasn’t been at his best this season, and there were talks of him moving to Saudi Arabia. Ortega also considered leaving but chose to stay and push Ederson for the top spot. However, things might be changing. Ederson is fit, yet Ortega’s continued selection suggests a shift in their roles. Guardiola’s public support for Ortega at Brentford indicates he’s backing his ‘number two’ in the race to be the first choice.