Ederson transfer interest and Adama Traore praise – Every word from part two of Pep Guardiola’s post-Fulham press conference | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has shone further light on a summer of transfer interest in Manchester City’s number one, Ederson followings links to Saudi Arabia.

The latest discussions surrounding the Brazil international come after a stellar performance in the Premier League in Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Fulham, largely thanks to Ederson keeping the likes of Adama Traore at bay.

Andreas Pereira had given Marco Silva’s side the lead inside the first-half but were cancelled out by a Mateo Kovacic brace either side of the half-time interval. Jeremy Doku’s late wonder-strike would put the result beyond doubt, despite Rodrigo Muniz’s consolation.

Speaking after the match in part two of his post-game press conference, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on Manchester City’s unusually high number of goals conceded, as well as the talents of the aforementioned Adama Traore.

Those subjects, alongside transfer interest in Ederson throughout the last summer make up subjects in City Xtra’s latest edition of Every Word, bringing you each comment from the Manchester City manager in his latest press address!

On his post-match conversation with Adama Traore

“Yeah, I said, ‘Well done (for missing those chances)!’ Listen, I’ve known him since he played at Barcelona when he was in the Academy, and after he went to Middlesbrough, and after he went to Wolves with Nuno (Espirito Santo), and after he went to Barcelona, and after he came back here.

“He’s an incredible threat this guy! This guy, when he takes the ball, forget about it! Look at the run with our fastest player, Kyle (Walker), he beat him. So he’s unstoppable when it’s a big space, he’s so difficult to control.

“And he’s a lovely guy, and I think Marco (Silva) helps him to make this step up and he’s playing at his best level. I wasn’t surprised at all by how good Fulham is, and how good they play, and how tough and resistant, resilient we were to go through that game.”

On Ederson proving why Manchester City fought so hard to keep him

“I’ve said many times, how many years we are together, eight years with Eddie, the success that we had – without him? I cannot visualise. I cannot! Today he made two incredible saves. I think Stefan (Ortega Moreno), for me, is one of the best players I’ve ever seen one-against-one, these kind of actions.

“I think working with him, I’m pretty sure that Eddie can get it. Of course we have with Xabi (Mancisidor) and Richard (Wright), we have unbelievable coaches for the keepers. And he made incredible saves in important moments of the game, definitely.

“And at the end, the big keepers have to save these kind of actions. When we won the Champions League, I remember in certain moments Eddie saved it! And when he didn’t save it, we could not go through. In the moments, the keepers have to make these kind of actions to win games.”

On whether there was any concern that Ederson might leave last summer

“Yeah, of course. He’s an important figure with our team, and Scott (Carson). At the end, it didn’t happen, we are lucky to have him. Hopefully he’s happy, and always you have to prepare because you never know what’s going to happen, for whether the players want to leave or so on. We should have moved forward, that’s for sure. Eddie knows us really, really well with what we have to do.”

On conversations with Ederson over the summer

“No, he knew from day one that I didn’t want it, we didn’t want it. But the truth, I’m going to tell you; the truth is that the offer didn’t come. The real offer. Because they made an offer but to be, for the keeper, for the team who won four Premier Leagues in a row, has a value, a price. Otherwise he cannot leave! But if the offer can be gone, maybe he should not be here. This is the truth.”

On the impact offers/interest can have on players, but it has not shown in Ederson

“Ederson is so strong, can be in his own idea, but after when he changes his mind in second, he says, ‘OK, I’m here. We’re going to do our best!’ And of course, Ederson is an important player.

“But always I had the feeling that Stefan (Ortega Moreno) is an exceptional player, and sometimes Ederson has to have the feeling that you have to play and perform well, otherwise Stefan can play!

“And this competition, healthy competition that they have because they respect and they have an incredible relation, makes our team better.”

On whether he has had a look at why Manchester City are conceding an unusual amount of goals

“No (it’s not individual mistakes), maybe structurally, yeah. Maybe we create more, or concede more. We have the international break to reflect. I’m going to see games. But expect the last 10, 15 minutes, for example the first action from Adama Traore one-against-one with Rico (Lewis) is a long ball and he’s in front of him, and after he anticipated him.

“Of course, when that happens, it’s a mistake. You have to be better in that, in these kind of situations. We are a team more used to playing than focussing on these kind of things, but you’re right; score goals and you have to try to be better (defensively). We have margin to improve. You are right.”

On the fact it is easy to say it is due to Rodri being absent: “I think it is so easy to say this analysis. You know that? With Rodri we drew two games, and without him we won all the games this season. If there is one player that all the time makes a mistake, and mistake, and mistake, next game they’re not going to play. It’s simple.

“When you have a business, you have to perform well. But it is not the case. Maybe I have to reflect on the goals, how it goes in, normally it’s in transition or on set-pieces, because without Rodri we lose this power. Because he’s another guy who is so strong in these positions.

“But we have to live without him, and see what we can do better with the ball. We will talk, we will see, we will reflect on what we miss to be more consistent.”