Man City got a five-star back-up goalkeeper in Stefan Ortega

Manchester City's most likely Premier League title - depending on themselves on the final day - will have many heroes. The most obvious, despite not having been a regular for the Sky Blues, is Stefan Ortega, who decided the decisive game against Tottenham with his saves after coming on in the second half for Ederson who withdrew with physical problems.

The German-Spanish goalkeeper is in his second season at the Etihad and has already surpassed the 14 appearances he made in his first campaign with the Sky Blues. He had to play in the Champions League due to an injury to Ederson and even played in the first leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, a game that left him partly marked by his doubts in goal.

After Ederson returned to the starting line-up following his return to fitness, Stefan Ortega was given a chance to vindicate himself in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and, most notably, in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday that allowed Pep Guardiola's side to move within touching distance of another Premier League title.

The former Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper, who has conceded 10 more goals in 2023-24 than in 2022-23, saved an incredible one-on-one with South Korea's Son and also stood on a couple of other chances to preserve Manchester City's lead as the Sky Blues sealed it in stoppage time with a penalty goal from Erling Haaland.

 

May 14, 2024