TEAM-MATES THANK EDERSON FOR STRING OF CRUCIAL SAVES

MANCHESTER CITY’S players admitted they were indebted to Ederson after victory over Napoli last night — and revealed that they thanked the goalkeeper in the dressing room. Ederson saved a Dries Mertens penalty and turned in a man-of-the-match display as Pep Guardiola’s side moved closer to the Champions League last 16. City only need a point in Naples in a fortnight to secure a knockout phase place after winning all three of their opening group games. And Kyle Walker believes that is largely down to the performance of Ederson, who continues to look a shrewd signing for City after their troubles between the sticks last season. Injured full back Benjamin Mendy even posted a picture of a brick wall on social media to indicate just how highly Ederson is thought of. ‘Ederson kept us in it and we need to say thank you to him,’ said Walker. ‘We always knew Napoli were going to come at us in the second half after we went 2-0 up.’ City flew out of the traps with goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus inside 13 minutes, but they were pegged back by Amadou Diawara’s penalty after the break. Guardiola claimed Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli ‘are one of the best teams I’ve ever faced’ but suggested City must be more careful on the ball in future. Kevin De Bruyne appeared irritated at half time after City’s grasp on the encounter slipped and Guardiola said: ‘You play long balls against that team and in two seconds they are attacking. In football, how fast the ball goes is how fast it comes back. ‘You have to play better build-up, to contact with Kevin and David Silva. We faced one of the best sides I faced in my career, probably the best. It is one of the wins I am most proud of in my career.’ The Spaniard added: ‘It was an amazing game, outstanding. High standard, good passes. Both teams decided to play and press high. Nine points after three games is so important to us. The situation is to go and win in Napoli.’