After the injury to regular goalkeeper Ederson, former Bundesliga goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is taking center stage at Premier League club Manchester City. But coach Pep Guardiola isn’t worried about that.
“We don’t want to sell him or lend him out. We need him here.” That said Manchester City Coach Pep Guardiola in August 2023 about his replacement goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. At the time he was linked to FC Bayern Munich. There he was supposed to replace the starting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who was still injured at the time.
Bayern are said to have already made specific inquiries in England and with Ortega, and the goalkeeper himself is said to have been not averse to it either. But after Guardiola’s word of power, the change did not take place. Bayern put Sven Ulreich between the posts until Neuer returned.
Ederson will be out for about a month
Now Ortega is really needed. Because Manchester City will have to do without their Brazilian regular goalkeeper Ederson for the time being. The thigh injury from the Premier League-The top game last Sunday at Liverpool FC (1:1) is probably more problematic than expected.
Apparently the South American could be out for up to a month. Already against them “Reds” Ortega did a good job. After just under an hour he came into the game for the injured Ederson and kept his box clean until the end.
Important games for City
For the English one Triple-Winners have important games coming up in the next few weeks. At the end of March it will be against the current leaders FC arsenal for important points in the title fight, and Ederson could also be in the quarter-final first leg Champions League stand out.
But first they meet “Skyblues” on Saturday (March 16, 2024) in FA Cup-Quarterfinals Newcastle United. Which is nothing special for Ortega, as he always plays there as a “cup goalkeeper” anyway. Ortega has played ten competitive games this season, as Guardiola also relies on his backup goalkeeper in the League Cup and Super Cup. But he was also on the pitch in the Champions League and the league.
From Bielefeld to the island
Ortega, whose father is Spanish and whose mother is German, moved to Manchester in the summer of 2022. The 31-year-old came from Arminia Bielefeld on a free transfer, with the club having just been relegated. “This is a very good deal for City. We are signing a goalkeeper who has huge experience”said sports director Txiki Begiristain at the time.
And Ortega explained: “This is a fantastic move for me. To have the chance to be part of this group of players and continue the club’s success is a dream.” Even as number two, he never regretted it. “I can be absolutely satisfied. Nobody here would give me these games if they weren’t convinced by me”he once said about being a reservist.
Under the radar in Germany
In Germany, Ortega went under the radar for many years. That was because he only played in the Bundesliga for two years with Arminia Bielefeld. He moved to the club from East Westphalia in 2007 as a teenager from Hessen Kassel. In 2011 he made it into the professional team there.
In 2014 he moved to TSV 1860 Munich, but returned to Bielefeld after three years. In the 2020/21 season, one of his years in the Bundesliga, he was rated by “Kicker” as the second-best goalkeeper of the season with an average grade of 2.81 behind the multiple world goalkeeper Neuer.
Guardiola raves
Nevertheless, the move to Manchester came as a surprise. “He’s a typical German goalkeeper. He makes incredible handball movements. He’s a really, really good goalkeeper”, enthuses his coach Guardiola. Ortega shows that every day in training “The club made a great transfer” have. He is outstanding “in all areas: in goal, with the feet and with the hands”.
Part in City’s treble win
After a win in the FA Cup last year against FC Chelsea said the former Oasis-Frontman Liam Gallagher Ortega after a song by the band as “Wonderwall” – which can be translated as “protective wall”, “bulwark” or “magical creature”. And the “Manchester Evening News” Ortega promptly protested “possibly the best number 2 in the Premier League”.
With Ortega in goal, City not only beat Chelsea in the FA Cup, but also against Arsenal and in the final against Manchester United through. Ortega played his part in the club’s treble win. And that could be the case again this season, especially after Ederson’s injury.