After having their pre-season Manchester Derby cancelled last year in Beijing, Manchester United and Manchester City were pleased to play their match last week in Houston’s NRG Stadium, USA.
Jose Mourinho’s team came out on top by a 2-0 scoreline as the Red-Devils took advantage of another sloppy performance by a Manchester City goalkeeper. The man struggling between the sticks for Pep Guardiola’s City side this time was new summer signing Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, purchased for a world record £34.69million from Benfica as part of Pep’s summer defensive rebuild.
Last season Guardiola loaned out Joe Hart and signed Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for £17million from Barcelona but Bravo was a bit of disappointment with Willy Caballero becoming the first choice keeper as the season progressed.
This summer City have loaned Joe Hart out to West Ham for the season and will be hoping that Ederson will be able to succeed where Claudio Bravo failed. Ederson is almost 24 years old and is close to becoming a full Brazil international after playing for the U23 side.
The young Brazilian has made 37 appearances for Benfica over the past 2 seasons after graduating from the Benfica B team, and managed to win the treble of the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira as he cemented his place as the first choice keeper last season.
Ederson looks like “first choice” in City’s goal is his to lose after getting the start against Manchester United last week but the youngster was certainly effected by nerves as he was completely to blame for both of United’s goals in Houston. The young goalie will need to get used to the pressure and the physicality of the Premier League in a hurry if he is to be a success.
Regardless, after their big spending transfer windows both Manchester teams are preferred to win the Premier League title over their other rivals. According to many of the latestbettingsites Guardiola’s Man City are 15/8 to win the title with Man United at 10/3. Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal round out the top 6 favourites in that order showing how much Arsenal’s chances have slipped in the eyes of the bookies.
After conceding far too many goals last season in his 1st season in the Premier League the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has already spent over £200million to reinforce his defense. Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo have joined City in addition to ‘keeper Ederson.
You feel however that the success of the team really depends to a great extent on Ederson and how he copes with the step up in class and the demands on him as he acclimatises to British football.
Man City are still working hard in this transfer window and don’t be surprised to see a few more signings joining Pep Guardiola’s team. City are being credited with a serious chance of signing the man of the moment – youngster Kylien Mbappe from Monaco. Real Madrid are reportedly very keen on Mbappe too and it seems as though it will be a battle between the two clubs if the starlet leaves the French champions.
After such a sensational summer transfer window the upcoming Premier League season has massive promise and with the retooling of City and United really taking shape now under Messrs Guardiola and Mourinho respectively the battle for the title looks like it will be a dinger!