“Ederson is the number one” | Pep Guardiola on goalkeeping situation

City’s Coach Pep Guardiola Expects Turning Point Despite Winless Run

Despite Manchester City’s current seven-game winless run, manager Pep Guardiola is confident that his team can return to their previous dominant form once some of their injured players return to the starting lineup. Speaking to reporters today, the Catalan tactician expressed his vision for a successful campaign, but was evasive on the team’s plans for the January transfer market.

When asked if he still believed his squad could reach the same standards of past seasons, Guardiola replied, "We will be close, but we will see. We will talk internally about what’s best for January. It depends on the position and the situation we’re in." This answer has sparked debate about the team’s potential activity in the transfer window, with most pundits expecting a injection of new talent to help turn around the team’s fortunes.

Guardiola has other pressing concerns, however. He confirmed that John Stones will not be fit to face Nottingham Forest tomorrow, while Kevin De Bruyne could make his first start since September. City are currently 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, and Guardiola has urged his players to focus on their next game and not get caught up in the title race. "Before, we cannot think about the results we had in the past," he said. "Thinking about the big target, the big mistake is thinking about trying to win a team like us and taking advantage of them to be close to the top four. That is a target, and in November, we will see what happens."

The Portuguese coach also addressed his team’s inconsistent form, acknowledging that they are not far from being a top-two team. "We’re not far away from the second position, but consistency is the key. Many things give you positive thoughts about what’s going to happen in the future." Despite this, Guardiola emphasized the need to earn their moments and produce more in key areas of the game.

In a surprising twist, Guardiola was asked about his goalkeepers, with Education being dropped for the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. He was replaced by Stefan Ortega, who could start against Forest tomorrow. The question on everyone’s mind is: who is City’s number one goalkeeper? "Stephan is number two, but maybe Stefan will continue [playing] in the next games," Guardiola revealed, leaving the door open for Ortega to stake his claim. As for Edison’s reaction to his axing, Guardiola stated, "He wasn’t really good with the decision, but we know each other for eight or nine years, so we’ll see."

Guardiola’s words may inspire hope in his players, but the team must turn their words into action if they are to climb back up the Premier League table. Only time will tell if City can overcome their current misfortunes and return to their best form.

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