Peter Schmeichel has claimed that Manchester City have a player who is very unique in one respect for a player in his position.
As football continues to evolve, so do roles, the kind of players who play them and the expectations from the role.
For instance, before Pep Guardiola popularised the idea of goalkeepers playing out from the back, most teams would demand the man in between the sticks to take minimal touches.
Peter Schmeichel says one Man City player is special in one regard
It seems like Manchester United decided to part ways with David De Gea due to prioritising a ball-playing goalkeeper such as Andre Onana.
Similarly, Tottenham Hotspur might have taken the same decision by signing Guglielmo Vicario as a successor to Hugo Lloris.
When Micah Richards stated that Thibaut Courtois does not seem as stylish and comfortable in possession as Ederson, Peter Schmeichel stressed not many goalkeepers do.
Micah Richards asked on CBS Sports: “What’s so good about him, Peter [Schmeichel]? As a goalkeeper.”
Schmeichel replied: “I can’t believe that you said he’s not good on the eye.”
Richards said: “No, I meant, sometimes, he looks a little bit awkward! So, if you’re talking about Ederson, obviously he’s got a big frame and all that, I’m talking about the modern-day goalkeeper with the feet.”
Schmeichel replied: “Ederson with the ball at his feet is elegant.”
Richards said: “Exactly, my point.”
Schmeichel added: “You won’t see many goalkeepers as elegant as that.”
Ederson is very rare in this respect
In our view, Peter Schmeichel raises a valid point about Ederson.
A goalkeeper like Real Madrid number one Thibaut Courtois is undeniably top-class with the ball at his feet.
But the two-time Champions League winner is not as elegant as the Brazilian, as most goalkeepers are not with the ball at their feet.
The £35 million man is not only incredible in possession but the style he plays with is similar to that of a classy operator in midfield.
In November, Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone joked that the former Benfica number one “ruined it” for traditional goalkeepers due to how outstanding he is on the ball.
Ederson is well and truly an anomaly in this respect and that is how he should be viewed instead of the bar for ball-playing goalkeepers, as Peter Schmeichel emphasised.