Ederson says Blues aces have helped him win cap

EDERSON is set to win his second Brazil cap and has given the credit to City stars like Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne.

The Blues goalkeeper had been relegated to No.2 for his country by Liverpool star Alisson, and watched the World Cup from the bench as a result.

His only international appearance came in the 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile, a year ago, when Brazil had already secured their place in the finals.

But Ederson has been told he will start against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh tonight, with Alisson pencilled in for next week’s showcase friendly against Argentina in Jeddah.

And he says that facing the quality of the Blues aces every day in training, as well as the international stars of the Premier League in a match situation, has improved him.

“I have evolved a lot in several aspects, especially the technical aspect,” he said.

“The tactical set-up at City also fits me well. Pep likes to keep it short, and I have adapted quickly.

“I have grown up a lot as a player, and in the national team, too.

“Facing world-class players in training, and in games, helps a lot.

“I’m always looking for improvement and that is what happened in my first season.”

Ederson quickly established himself as City’s No.1 following his £35m move from Benfica in 2017, after Claudio Bravo’s difficult debut season.

He has already racked up 55 appearances for the Blues and is a firm favourite with the fans. THINK of the great defensive midfielders and they tend to be physical, often to the point of brutish – and often huge.

Patrick Vieira, Roy Keane, Edgar Davids, Diego Simeone and, closer to home for City fans, Nigel De Jong - all were solid specimens who could mix it and play a bit as well.

After his Anfield revelation, you can add to that list Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva, ten stone wet through, and possibly the nicest footballer on the planet.

The 5ft 8ins Portugal international was asked to do a new job by Pep Guardiola, as he sought to plug the alarming gaps which caused his team’s first league defeat and their Champions League demise last season. There had been speculation that John Stones might be asked to play in that role after recent experiments.

Some pundits think Stones could end up as a holding midfielder, with his passing range.

And a fit Ilkay Gundogan might also have been in the running, as a man to offer Fernandinho a helping hand.

But it was a sign of Guardiola’s faith in Bernardo that he had no hesitation in asking him to hold his position.

Heat maps of his role at Anfield show he spent most of the time in his own half, unusual for a player blessed with such a creative spark around the box.

The fact that he was so important in plugging the gaps through which three league points, and City’s Champions League dreams, drained last season, revealed two aspects of his game which are not often recognised - his tenacity and work rate.

Guardiola splashed out £43m to bring in the cheery midfield ace from Monaco and last season declared: “If I am here, he will stay here because he is special.”

That was reference to Bernardo’s professionalism, patience and positive demeanour when he was not a first choice in the team.

But last season his influence grew and in this campaign he has arguably been City’s best player.

Guardiola’s trust in him was emphasised by the fact he asked him to play a new role at Anfield, in one of the biggest games of the season - similar gambles with Ilkay Gundogan as a right-sided player and Aymeric Laporte at left-back, blew up in the manager’s face when City lost 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final last season.

The fact that Bernardo pulled it off and played a key role in City blanking Liverpool - while sacrificing his natural attacking flair - justifies the manager’s faith in him.

Bernardo has now played in five different roles for City, taking on each of the front three berths, being shifted to central midfield with great success this season, and now this.

Of course, that does not lessen the need for a true holding midfielder. Bernardo may have done well against a Liverpool team that relies on fast-breaking players, but he would find it tougher against more physical opposition.

But Guardiola has another option, and that makes his squad even more solid.