SAD News for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City as THREE BIG NAME player has informed the club that the will be leaving this summer
A year ago, Manchester City’s goalkeeper and defense were so reliable that fans created a song to celebrate their stoppers:
– Ake and Ederson
– Walker and the Japanese
– Dias Ruben
– John Stones
The goalkeeper, Ederson, was particularly outstanding, delivering a performance in Istanbul that helped secure the Champions League title, justifying his manager’s steadfast trust in him. John Stones was revolutionizing the role of a center back by transitioning into midfield. Nathan Ake ended City’s long search for a competent left-back. Manuel Akanji, acquired for a bargain price of £14 million, was proving to be an invaluable utility player, filling in wherever needed.
Following their treble-winning season, Kyle Walker was the only uncertainty. After being left out of the final game and contemplating a move to Bayern Munich, he chose to stay, signed a new contract, took on the captain’s armband, and ended up starting more games than any other defender throughout the season.
Walker, now turning 34, acknowledges that his playing time might need to decrease in the coming seasons, raising questions about the future of the right-back position. Stones had to fight to reclaim his place in the first team over the summer after being sidelined towards the end of the previous season.
Even Ruben Dias faced challenges. The consistent performances of newcomers like Josko Gvardiol and the solid play of Ake and Akanji towards the season’s end pushed Dias out of the starting lineup. Guardiola reinforced his philosophy that players who perform well will keep their place on the team, shaking up the established order.
Ederson has been rumored to be considering a move, with backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega potentially seeking more playing time elsewhere. Ortega has expressed a desire to play more, although Pep Guardiola has reassured him that he will remain the second-choice goalkeeper next season.
In the first of a three-part series assessing the squad after the 2023-2024 season, we examine the positions and futures of each goalkeeper and defender, as well as what they need to do to improve for the next season.
Potential Departures:
Firstly, the less positive news. Stefan Ortega, following a series of strong performances, has hinted that he might look to leave this summer in search of more playing time. Despite his aspirations, Guardiola has repeatedly assured him that he will continue to be the backup goalkeeper in the upcoming season.