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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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