Ederson concedes Manchester City squad have plateaued under Pep Guardiola as Saudi speculation looms | OneFootball

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has reflected candidly on his side’s struggles and admitted several first-team players are past their prime under Pep Guardiola.

City are currently in sixth place in the Premier League table as they look to finish a disappointing season on a high by securing qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League and winning an eighth FA Cup title.

A goalless draw against rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday means City have seven league games to finish in the top five places in the Premier League, which would ensure Champions League qualification for next term.

The Blues will undergo wholesale changes in the first-team in the summer after Kevin De Bruyne announced last week that he will be parting ways with the Premier League champions at the end of his 10th season at the Etihad Stadium.

With injuries depleting Guardiola’s squad City needing urgent reinforcements, the 2023 treble winners signed Adbukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez for a combined £181.5 million in January.

More changes are coming in the summer and goalkeeper Ederson is one of several first-team players who could be heading for the exit door after a frustrating campaign – having failed to broker a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer.

“We needed reinforcements because we had a lot of injuries during the season, which has been a lot of games, very tiring for some players,” Ederson said in an interview with ESPN Brasil a few weeks ago, as relayed by Sport Witness.

All four of City’s January signings have played a role since their mid-season arrival and Ederson sees this as a huge relief to the worn-down squad who have ben played into the ground this season. “When you start the season with this load, the risk of injury is almost 100%. So, I see the reinforcements as very positive,” the 31-year-old added.

“It’s good to bring in these young players, to plan for the future, because there are a lot of players who are already at the end of their cycle at (Manchester) City, so I think it’s always welcome, good new options to start planting the seeds of the future.”

On his compatriot Vitor Reis, the Brazilian said: “Vitor is a very talented player with a very promising future. We talk every day, we are always together – me, him, Savinho and Matheus Nunes.

“He (Reis) is very promising. It is difficult to put a 19-year-old defender straight into the Premier League, especially at City. But he has already played a few games and performed very well. I see him as a great future for City’s defence.”

City return to Premier League action at the weekend with a home fixture against Crystal Palace and Guardiola will be desperate to return to winning ways as there remains little margin for error if his side are to play Champions League football next season.