In a crucial Premier League clash between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, manager Pep Guardiola credited substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega for a pivotal save that played a decisive role in maintaining City’s stronghold on the title race.
During the game, Ortega replaced goalkeeper Ederson and made a crucial save by stretching out his leg to deny Son Heung-min a one-on-one scoring opportunity, shortly after City took the lead through Erling Haaland in the 51st minute.
Guardiola emphasized the significance of Ortega’s save, acknowledging that it prevented Spurs from equalizing and potentially complicating City’s quest for victory. Haaland later secured a 2-0 win for Manchester City by converting a penalty.
“Stefan Ortega has saved us. Otherwise, Arsenal are Premier League champions,” Guardiola remarked. “He has consistently demonstrated his exceptional goalkeeping skills since joining us, making incredible saves on numerous occasions.”
Following his praise for Ortega, Guardiola highlighted the impressive performances of six Tottenham Hotspur players during the match, including Kulusevski, Maddison, Son, Johnson, Porro, and Sarr.
He commended Spurs for their speed, intensity, and tactical prowess both with and without possession, acknowledging the challenges they posed to City. Despite the difficulties faced, Guardiola lauded his team’s resilience and highlighted the crucial role of the goalkeepers in securing the victory.
“In the bad moments, we were there, and our keepers did the job,” Guardiola reflected. “At the end, in the right moment, we punished them.”
