“i play every match with the same boxer shorts – when the season ends, i thank them for their work and put them in the bin”

PREMIER LEAGUE

EDERSON MANCHESTER CITY

No goalkeeper in the world has tougher training sessions than Ederson. Every day, the Brazilian has to somehow figure out how to deny Erling Haaland.

Actual matches must seem almost easy by comparison, although the 29-year-old’s game is about far more than just stopping shots. An important part of Manchester City’s renowned build-up play from the back, Ederson’s range of passing has been critical to their success – he even notched an assist when he put Haaland clear through on goal against Brighton in October.

Little wonder City won 11 trophies in his first five seasons, and went into the closing stages of 2022-23 battling for three more…

You’ve been at Manchester City for six years now. Just how special has it been?

They’ve been extremely positive years: this season I’ve been fighting for my fifth Premier League title, and we have won seven other trophies, too. That’s a lot in six years. To play in the Premier League was the biggest goal of my career, so I hope I’ll be able to keep doing what I’ve been doing since I joined the club. I know how tough it is to compete at the level that we do, in the league, in the domestic cups and in Europe. I’m proud of the consistency we’ve shown, because it’s far from easy. You have to work your socks off to get to the top, but it’s even harder to keep the consistency when you get there. It’s normal to have ups and downs, but the key for us has been to get back to top shape very quickly whenever our form has dipped a bit.

Which has been your most special moment at Manchester City so far?

My first Premier League title. To achieve that in my first season was unforgettable, mainly because I remember that there were loads of doubts about me when I joined the club – there were so many question marks around my name. That’s why it was the most special achievement to date.

What dreams do you still hope to achieve during your time at the club?

The Champions League, without a shadow of a doubt. That’s the only title the club has still to win – it’s been our main goal. Needless to say, the team has improved a great deal over the past years, but that piece of silverware is missing from the trophy cabinet. It’s been so frustrating to be knocked out or lose a final when you know the quality is there to be the champions. The bitter taste is terrible. But it’