Ederson has signed a new five-year contract at Man City. It would be a shame if he never got to take a penalty in that time
Usually at matches in UEFA competitions, attending journalists are allowed to watch 15 minutes of “open” training on the eve of a game before they and their prying eyes are herded away from the action.
That action generally consists of light jogging, some sprints and maybe a bit of passing. Personally, I’ve always felt flattered that elite coaches fear the likes of me might stumble upon a genius tactical plan.
I can’t speak for all colleagues, but it’s unquestionably a massive overestimation of my footballing intellect.
Anyway, this charade of booting out potential opposition spies could not take place ahead of last season’s Champions League final in Porto between Manchester City and Chelsea, given shoving dozens of the press pack towards small exits didn’t represent a pandemic secure course of action
It meant we enjoyed the privilege of watching elite footballers go through a few more gears at close quarters. City played an enjoyably intense inter-squad game that marked the final time Sergio Aguero scored with the club badge on his kit.
Joao Cancelo netted a screamer and I and no one else present picked up that Pep Guardiola would head into the showpiece without a specialist defensive midfielder. I told you, the subterfuge is wasted on us.
After the game broke up, the players split off into other activities and the goalkeepers went to work at the end of the Estadio do Dragao where Kai Havertz would score his winner a little over 24 hours later.
Time and again from 12 yards, the Brazil international dispatched the ball unerringly into the net. These weren’t just lucky kicks, either.
Ederson struck plenty of them very hard, including one where Scott Carson was rooted as the ball flew past him into the top corner. But there was also clever placement and a nonchalant sidefoot.
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