The Brazilian claimed an amazing assist in Saturday evening’s superb 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, floating an inch-perfect pass into the path of Ilkay Gundogan for the German’s second goal of the game, effectively killing the contest.
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The dazzling delivery marked Ederson’s second Premier League assist and while Guardiola has worked with some of the world’s best shot-stoppers throughout his career, the boss dubbed the City star his best ball-playing ‘keeper.
“With his feet, he is the best,” he declared. “The quality of the pass, I would say, is the best.
“Manuel [Neuer] and Victor [Valdés] were incredible too but the quality of the pass (from Ederson) is the best.
“I would not say who is the best [overall] because I had success in the past with incredible ‘keepers in Victor, Manuel and Eddie.
“It is another example (of the recognition Ederson deserves) – he has credit from the manager, backroom staff and players. He’s outstanding and he knows it.
“But the players know: if you want credit and to be recognised, win games, win titles and you will get it.
“If you don’t win games and titles, you will not get it. It’s not more difficult than this.”
Saturday’s triumph yielded further cause for celebration for Ederson, as City earned a 22nd clean sheet of the campaign.
With the league leaders in rampant form at the other end of the pitch, Guardiola concurred that a solid defence instils confidence throughout the squad.
“Yes, of course,” he agreed. “It’s a relation. If the attackers have the feeling we are defending well, maybe they are more calm.
“We have clean sheets – the back four [on Saturday] were amazing.
“I said to them: ‘We will see counter-attacks and concede moments with Kane, Son, Moura.’
“’Now, we know, forget about it and play.’ It’s impossible to stop them for 90 minutes.
“I am enjoying watching, of course. I want to finish the game with us having created more and conceded fewer [than the opposition].
“Football is a game where you can create more than the opponent and lose games. It’s the only sport it can happen – it doesn’t happen in basketball, tennis, golf…
“When you do that, you are closer to winning games. After that, you have to try to be good in the boxes.
“This year, we have made an incredible improvement. We don’t make mistakes. Always I believe – even as a teenager and at Barcelona – that you should create more.
“You have have the ball, pass the ball, run without the ball and be patient with the ball. You need to find the right moment.”
