Penalty taker and stopper is still City's number one guy

Manchester City have amassed a squad brimming with technique and talent.

- RICHARD JOLLY

They have players who caress a ball as much as strike one. They have those who are defined by the precision of their passing. They have a man who may prove the greatest goalscorer of his generation.

And so their outstanding spot-kick taker is… the goalkeeper? “He is our best penalty taker,” said Pep Guardiola. “Along with Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne.” Manuel Akanji narrowed it down further. “Ederson is probably the best penalty taker in our team, Erling as well,” the defender said, “When Ederson takes the penalty, I know it is a goal.” Oscar Bobb felt he was in the top one. “I think so,” said the winger. “I haven’t seen Ederson miss so probably, yeah.”

The Community Shield amounted to a triumph of a reluctant remainer. Ederson could have been found in Riyadh or Jeddah rather than Wembley now. Playing for City pays well; playing in Saudi Arabia is still more lucrative. A bid from Al-Nassr was rejected. Al-Ittihad were interested and Ederson too, in swapping the Mancunian rain for the desert of the Middle East, but neither club met City’s asking price and both of his Saudi suitors have since signed other goalkeepers. Now the assumption is that Ederson stays. The start of a new season could have marked City’s first game after the Brazilian; instead, it may be another trophy that Guardiola attributes to his footballing goalkeeper.

Guardiola’s emphasis on a passing goalkeeper means Ederson, a left-back at points in his youth, doubles up as the 11th outfield player