Ederson will leave Manchester city a legend ๐ฉต
372 appearances, 18 trophies won.
๐ 6x Premier League
๐ 2x FA Cup
๐ 3x EFL Cup
๐ 3x Community Shield
๐ Champions League
๐ CWC
๐ UEFA Super Cup
Individual Awards:
๐ 3x Golden Glove Winner
๐ 2x PFA TOTY
๐ '21 UCL SOTS
๐ PL GK assist record.
๐ The Best FIFA Goalkeeper: 2023
๐ Globe Soccer Awards Best Goalkeeper: 2023
๐ FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2024
I am not a Manchester City fan, and I even shed a tear.
This is someone who changed the landscape of not only the Premier League, but football.
Best Premier League Player of all Time. Top 10 player of all time.
I still donโt think people realise how important Rodri was for City, even despite their collapse this season. Itโs certainly been downplayed.
Heโs multiple profiles rolled into one. A one-man solution to the various tactical challenges City have faced without him.
Controller:
Ability to set an almost metronomic tempo. Knows when to speed up game, slow it down, break lines, switch, go direct. Elite short and long. Superb risk management.
Prevents cheap turnovers, maintains control, and allows City to build sustained pressure over long periods.
Heโs Man Cityโs reset button when things become chaotic. He takes the sting out of any game, assumes control and then plays it on his terms.
Defensive Intelligence & Physical Dominance:
The ability to position himself so well off the ball, to read situations, prevent counters, cut off passing lanes, and act as an almost sweeper to get possession back quicker.
His presence alone allows the fullbacks & midfielders to play higher up the pitch, to compress space, and be more aggressive in the press.
Heโs a massive physical presence. Covers ground in all phases & good duel winner on the ground and especially in the air (in both boxes).
Minimizes transition threats with decision making/patience on the ball and intelligence off it.
Final Third :
Really clean ball striker off both feet, attacks the box late well, a goal threat and clever final third decision making, can be progressive when needed (when to try to force it, when to switch)
Heโs their anchor on and off the ball, in every phase.
However you want to phrase it, the glue, the structure, the balance, fluidity, thatโs Rodri.
With him it looks like they have more players on the pitch. Without him their entire shape unravels and they lose control.