'Pep is one of the best' - Ederson had no doubts about teaming up with Guardiola at Man City

Dom Farrell

'Pep is one of the best' - Ederson had no doubts about teaming up with Guardiola at Man City image

Ederson did not have to think twice about joining Manchester City from Benfica once he became aware of Pep Guardiola's interest.

The 24-year-old Brazilian became the most expensive goalkeeper in football when he joined the Premier League club from the Portuguese champions in June for £34.7million.

Man City 5/4 to win the Premier League

Fourteen months earlier, Ederson impressed when Benfica were edged out by Guardiola's Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The ex-Barcelona boss identified him as a keeper who could operate successfully within his team's approach of building play from the back and came calling after Claudio Bravo's disappointing maiden campaign in the Premier League last season.

"It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world," Ederson told Omnisport ahead of City's home game with Everton.

"When I knew I could work with him I was very happy. I didn't think twice.

Pep Guardiola Manchester City

"He has helped a lot in my adaptation, in the form of the game he likes. I train a lot with the ball."

For most of pre-season and in the opening weekend win at Brighton and Hove Albion, Ederson operated behind a back three.

This marks a departure from the four-man defence Guardiola tended to favour during his first season in Manchester but it is a system the recent recruit prefers.

"It's a young group that promises a lot in the competitions we're going to play," Ederson said of City's defensive unit.

"The defensive part is very well crafted. The way of playing with three defenders makes me more comfortable and it's easier for me.

"And my team-mates in the defence pass a lot of security to me and to the whole team."

Guardiola finished last season without a trophy for the first time in his coaching career – a state of affairs Ederson does not expect to be repeated this time around.

"We will fight for the Premier League title and we will fight for the Champions League as well," he added.

"Pep is integrating a young team, with an eye on the present and the future. So I think this will pay off."

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.