Bravo can deal with pressure of being number 1
KEEPER KNOWS BIG THINGS EXPECTED OF HIM
CLAUDIO Bravo has admitted there is a ‘big expectation’ on his shoulders after signing for City.
The former Barcelona goalkeeper has been brought in to be Pep Guardiola ‘s No.1 goalkeeper due to his proficiency with the ball at his feet.
Joe Hart has been left on the bench in favour of Willy Caballero for the three Premier League games this season and is certain to move away from the club before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
He was given a brilliant reception by the fans against Steaua Bucharest and Bravo is under no illusions about the pressures that await him as a result.
“When the best manager in the world explains a project to you it makes you motivated to see football in a different way. I think it’s infectious,” he said
“The fact he is looking for a keeper with different qualities, to be able to play with the feet or to be able to keep the box in another way, when someone gives you this kind of trust and invites you to be a part of this big project it makes me feel happy, but there is also a big expectation.”
Bravo is also expecting to fight for his place with Caballero and Angus Gunn also on the books and desperate for games.
He added: “I am going to have really tough competition because the club already has top goalkeepers, and my mission is to improve day by day and work as hard as I can.”
City goalkeeping legend Joe Corrigan has warned Bravo he may not find it easy to adapt to English football.
“The Premier League is maybe the hardest league to play in,” he said.
“It’s maybe not the best in technical ability – it’s getting there – but it’s definitely the hardest and especially for goalkeepers.
“It’s going to be a big test for a foreign goalkeeper to come in. A lot of them have and a lot of them have done well, but when you are coming into a massive club like Manchester City and especially with Joe having the history of what he’s done for the club, it’s going to be very difficult.”
Despite being snubbed by Guardiola, Hart has been named in Sam Allardyce’s first England squad for the September 4 clash with Slovakia.
Raheem Sterling keeps his place along with team-mate John Stones.
United’s Luke Shaw returns after last season’s injury problem.