Sky Sports pundit Don Hutchinson has named Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson as the surprise name crucial to the club making a bid for an unbeaten season on the way to the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola’s men sit top of the table after 12 games and are one of three sides currently without a defeat to their name, with Liverpool and Chelsea leading the chasing pack.
With 10 wins already, Hutchinson has stated that he is expecting the Etihad Stadium to go the entire season without seeing their team lose a game, naming Brazilian shot stopper Ederson as the only individual who could change that were he to be ruled out.
He told Sky Sports’ The Debate (22/11, 22:00): “I’m watching City at the moment and we’re 30 seconds into the show and I’m going early, I don’t think anyone beats them this season. I think they go invincible this season, they’re too good.
“I see the argument (against it) but the team that I’m watching at the moment with people like David Silva, who’s playing on a completely different level to most players.
“From back to front, the only worry (if) you look at individuals – they lost Kevin De Bruyne for a long time and have coped really well – the only worry for them would be if they lost Ederson in goal. If they lost him, maybe they’d struggle. Claudio Bravo is not the same level.
“Everywhere else on the pitch, if they were to get injuries to individuals, they have got a terrific squad.”
Opinion
Of all the huge names in this City squad not many would have stumped for Ederson to be the deciding factor in their title hunt, but Hutchinson does make a valid point. The squad depth at City is quite astounding and the options they have behind their starting XI is brilliant and so you can see why there might be the case for an invincible season. Still, the Premier League is a long and arduous campaign and it will take skill, determination and even a bit of luck just to pick up the title at the end of the season, let alone go the entire campaign without suffering defeat. Ederson will of course play his part but there are 10 other players on that pitch and every one of them will have to stand up and be counted, whether they play every game or feature for mere minutes off the bench. Unfortunately for Guardiola and his side, they seem to have two very worthy contenders hot on their heels, and so this is not going to be a walk in the park.