Man City star lays down challenge to Ederson and insists he deserves to start
Stefan Ortega has warned Ederson that he is not ready to settle as Manchester City 's No.2 after the German goalkeeper was handed a rare start against Brighton.
Ortega, 30, was named in the XI to face the Seagulls on Saturday, and although he conceded, he didn't do much wrong as City returned to winning ways in the Premier League. Goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland earned the treble winners a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
As for Ortega, he has impressed after joining the club from Arminia Bielefeld last summer, but has often had to settle for a place on the bench given the form of Ederson. The Brazilian has been superb for City so far this season, though Pep Guardiola decided to hand him a rest with Ortega taking his spot.
Having started just 17 matches in other competitions since the start of last season, Ortega felt he deserved his chance against Brighton and is hoping he can get more opportunities to show why he should be playing. "I'm ambitious and I want to play a lot of games. I'm always waiting to get a chance to get a bit more game time. Eddy is playing really well this season, he started really good," Ortega said, via Manchester Evening News.
"I try to keep pushing him every day in training sessions. I think I deserved to start today as well. Sometimes it is tough but this is my job - to be there when the team needs me and to keep pushing Eddy every day. I'm ambitious so of course I'm not happy to sit on the bench, but we are in a team.
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"I try to prepare like I would play just in case because you never know and if you're not prepared and you get in, you don't play well. I was excited when Pep told me yesterday that I'm starting today.
"I knew it would be a tough game because I played against Brighton at the end of the season. It's difficult when a team press you like they do 90 minutes man against man. I thought I did it well. There were three or four passes that were a bit shaky but it was an important game again. My main job is to save balls and try to catch crosses and anything else."
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Ederson had been initially named on the printed teamsheet, before City announced the XI on social media, which showed Ortega in the side. It is not known why this was the case but Guardiola was pleased to be able to hand a rest to the ex-Benfica shot-stopper, having previously started their opening eight league matches.
"Just the fact for the travel from Brazil for Eddy, it was a long time," Guardiola admitted. "It has happened many times and he played but he played two games there and first day he arrived he was so tired.
"Normally Ortega plays the Carabao Cup now we are out, and the FA Cup. Even for Eddy it's good to rest your mind. Other players get tired and keepers can be tired too. With the ball [Ortega] is really good. He is patient and composed and has the quality of the pass. That's why we decided for him."
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