Best Soccer Formations: The Philosophy, History, Pros and Cons Behind the Numbers
Take a look at the best soccer formations that are synonymous with the sport and have marked entire eras.
Manchester City's riches need no introduction. The transfer money invested by the side from the Etihad has been unrivalled ever since the club got bought by the Abu Dhabi consortium. So the statements that Pep Guardiola made recently, claiming Ederson is one of the best signings of the club ever, must echo loudly across England. Yet, more so were the manager's beliefs on the importance of the goalkeeping position.
Of course, it's only natural for Pep to believe so as his style depends on all 11 players being adept with the ball at their feet. A trait at which Ederson excels. Asked if Ederson was one of City’s greatest signings, Pep had no doubt.
"Absolutely, I completely agree. He has been consistent in this period. I had a feeling that in the last three, four games he even made a step forward. I had the feeling when he came back from the previous international break with Brazil he was a little bit low. Sometimes it happens. In a season it’s impossible to sustain the whole time. But in the last two, three weeks in the training sessions and games I feel we have seen the best Eddie we have," stated Pep.
Ederson arrived at the Etihad in the summer of 2017 from Benfica for €40,000,000 and has since played 215 games, keeping a clean sheet in 105 of them, conceding 164 goals.
The Brazilian is the building block on which City's style under Pep has been built and Guardiola didn't hide his ranking of goalkeepers as the most important position in football.
"Eddie is a very important player for us. I would say the keeper is the most important player on the team, more than a striker, the goalkeeper is fundamental. Eddie has been brilliant since he came to Manchester"
