The Chilean, whose penalty saving heroics helped City retain the Community Shield on his first competitive appearance for 12 months, admits his evolution into a ‘ball-playing’ keeper is a challenge he has enjoyed
Pep Guardiola’s ‘Fourmidables’ have earned a reputation for playing beautiful football with the ability to turn defence into attack, scoring some scintillating goals in the process.
In addition to their shot-stopping exertions, our goalkeepers have also played their part in creating goalscoring opportunities.
Both Bravo and Ederson have looked to unleash our forwards from goal-kicks, with the Brazilian having claimed two assists in the sensational 2018/19 campaign and Bravo providing for Kun in the 2018 Carabao Cup Final.
Composure and passing accuracy is key to the modern goalkeeper and Chile’s record appearance maker has embraced the new style.
“I was here from the first year and it wasn’t easy because the people were used to another game – with the ‘keeper controlling the ball and kicking it,” he reflected. “The further, the better.
“You would aim to kick it 70 metres away from you, but then people were getting used to the new style and they started to see how you can create chances by starting from the back and getting goals – playing like that.
“Nowadays, people enjoy it. I think they enjoy it when they see the ‘keepers from our Club trying to play from the back and not feeling the pressure most ‘keepers have in that situation.
“Also, us at the back enjoy contributing positively to the game.”
Back between the sticks after a lengthy injury layoff, Bravo made several important stops against Liverpool before crucially saving Georginio Wijnaldum’s penalty as City collected yet another trophy.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to sustained success, having helped Barcelona to plenty of silverware and he asserts City must remain hungry in the bid to dominate.
“We have to know what we achieved but we have to be as hungry as ever everyday – in every training session and in every game,” he added.
“We have to have a clear idea of what our goals are.
“We have to go at it like last season but we always have to aim to get further and aim for the highest, which is winning trophies on the international stage too.
“If we all feel that way, it’s going to be easier to fight to reach our goals.”
