CITY Ederson not afraid to make the brave saves

JUST six weeks after his face was gashed open by Sadio Mane’s studs, a big question was asked of Ederson’s bravery, against Burnley.

The scars from that nasty incident against Liverpool are still visible, but with Chris Wood bearing down on his goal, the Brazil number one did not hesitate.

After Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi were caught out, he dashed out to push the ball away from the Burnley striker’s feet and then quickly threw himself on the ball with Scott Arfield’s flailing boot trying to force it into the goal.

His courage paid off as referee Roger East whistled for an offence, deeming that Ederson had both hands on the ball when Arfield kicked it.

The game was goalless at that point, and City went on to win 3-0, with Ederson giving yet another flawless display, both as a goalkeeper and an 11th outfield player.

His unflappable demeanour is the same off the pitch as on it, and he answered questions about his bravery in a matter-of-fact manner. “It’s the way I play – if I have to put my hand, my head, my foot there to help the team that’s what I’m going to do,” he said after recording his eighth clean sheet in 12 appearances for the Blues.

“It’s part of the game, those situations in the box. But nothing serious happened.”

Ederson needed eight stitches in his facial wound after Mane’s high challenge, a reckless act which cost the Liverpool man a red card and threematch ban and contributed to City’s 5-0 win.

But he confessed that the physical nature of the Premier League was one of the main attractions in joining City in the summer for a world record fee for a goalkeeper of £35m.

“I have always played the same way,” said the former Benfica keeper. “I have no fear of anything.

“Regarding the second question, I’ve always watched the Premier League – it was my favourite competition so when I was able to come here, it was like a dream come true.

“I knew how physical the game is here, how strong and all the tackles. So I was already ready for that and I wasn’t really surprised.

“Obviously it’s a different championship than I was used to – it’s a really quick, really strong championship and you must be focused for 90 minutes.

“It’s just a matter of adaptation, I think I’m settling in really quick but I just need to keep going and keep working for the team.”