Ederson believes that Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City, the “King,” will lead his team to another Premier League title this year.
After missing five months due to a damaged hamstring, De Bruyne is back and ready to go for the English champions. In his three games, the Belgian superstar has one goal and three assists as City looks to win back-to-back Trebles.
De Bruyne’s return can give City the advantage in the fight for the league crown, according to Ederson, who compared the player to a chess King, the most valuable piece in the game.
“It’s just like chess – you have to protect the King!” exclaimed the Brazilian goalie. “Our “King,” who currently stands third on the list and is among the greatest assisters in Premier League history, is returning.
“He’s returned, and we’re thrilled to see him playing well, especially after a lengthy absence. Because of his talent, our team has really missed having him. Few players are able to locate passes as well as he can.
“He plays terrific football, keeps the ball, scores goals, and gets assists, so I’m glad he’s back and playing at his high level again. For the remainder of the season, I hope he can be of great assistance to the entire team as well as to him.”
After overcoming an autumn slump to regain their best form, City is looking to capture a record-breaking fourth title in a succession when they visit Brentford tonight (Mon). To stay up with leaders Liverpool at the top of the league, Guardiola’s team has taken 16 of the final 18 points that were available.
As the season approaches the home stretch, Ederson believes City is exactly where they want to be. “I think it’s meeting expectations, but there are still a lot of things to happen,” he stated. After a strong start, we saw a decline in performance, but we’re now back on track and playing excellent football.
“We have an aspirational mindset that aims to win everything again. This, in my opinion, is the most crucial factor. We’re going to battle to win everything again, keeping up our good play and fighting for it.”
The title fight still includes Tottenham and Aston Villa, but Ederson thinks it will ultimately come down to a three-way fight involving City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. “It’s easy to list the contenders for the Premier League,” he continued.
There are teams having fantastic seasons, like Liverpool, ourselves, Arsenal, and Tottenham, who all got off to a tremendous start to the season.
“Aston Villa is having an excellent season, with fantastic players and a great manager. They are playing good football.” However, I believe that Liverpool, City, and Arsenal are in the running for the crown. These three, in my opinion, are the favorites to win the Premier League.”
