Pep Guardiola praised goalkeeper Stefan Ortega for his vital save against Son Heung-min during Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, a win that propelled them back to the top of the Premier League. Ortega stepped in for Ederson in the 69th minute and made several key stops, with his most impressive moment coming in a one-on-one situation with the Spurs captain when City was only leading 1-0.
Guardiola was visibly astounded by Ortega’s performance, even falling to the ground in disbelief after the crucial save. Reflecting on the moment, Guardiola highlighted Ortega’s contribution to the team’s success, noting that without his interventions, Arsenal might have taken the lead in the title race. “Ortega’s save was defining. Without it, Arsenal would be champions,” he said on the club’s official website.
Guardiola emphasized the threat posed by Son, who has often been a thorn in City’s side over the past several years. He expressed his relief and admiration for Ortega’s timely save, saying, “Do you know how many times Son has punished us in the last seven or eight years? I thought, ‘No, not again,’ but Stefan made an incredible save. He has this talent. In one-on-ones, he is one of the best goalkeepers I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Praising Ortega’s technique, Guardiola attributed his skill to the German culture of goalkeeping, which emphasizes standing firm in one-on-one situations. “It’s the German culture, stand up, don’t go down, it’s really, really good,” he explained. Ortega has primarily played in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, stepping in reliably whenever Ederson has been sidelined by injuries.
Guardiola concluded by commending the club’s decision to bring Ortega on board, underscoring his reliability and exceptional goalkeeping abilities. “He’s so reliable and an incredible keeper. The club made an incredible decision to bring him here,” Guardiola said, reflecting on the impact Ortega has had in crucial moments for Manchester City.
