Stefan Ortega: From Manchester City’s Number Two to National Team Contender?

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One for the national team?

Stefan Ortega impressed despite conceding three goals in the Champions League duel with Real Madrid. He will now be number one permanently – and can even hope for a DFB appointment.

When Stefan Ortega moved from Bundesliga relegated Arminia Bielefeld to reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in the summer of 2022, quite a few were astonished. But Pep Guardiola was already convinced of the German goalkeeper back then. Brought in as number two, he was able to impress in the few games he played. This was also the case on Tuesday evening in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

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The 31-year-old conceded three goals, but they were all unsustainable – he saw it that way himself. The first two goals were decisively deflected, Fede Valverde’s volley was simply fantastic.

Accordingly, Ortga was able to look back on his performance in his first Champions League knockout game with satisfaction: “It was a very, very nice experience. I was very happy,” he said on Sky Sports UK. The fact that he was between the posts even though regular goalkeeper Ederson was in the squad was also because the Brazilian had not yet regained his rhythm after his injury.

Ortega looks at his regular city spot

But Stefan Ortega Moreno, as his full name is, has long since announced publicly that he has the right to be in goal permanently. “He didn’t say it that directly,” he answered when asked whether the appearance in the important game against Madrid could send a message for the coming weeks. But his good performances certainly didn’t help Guardiola make the final decision easily.

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If Ortega actually stays in the starting line-up for the Skyblues for the rest of the season, calls for a nomination for the German national team will certainly become louder. “I don’t have to hide,” he says confidently. He hasn’t received a call from Julian Nagelsmann yet, but “maybe he will at some point.”

Because Ortega’s teammates scored three times in the away game at the Santiago Bernabéu, everything is open before the title favorites meet again. This will take place next Wednesday (from 9 p.m. in the LIVETICKER), then on the island.

2024-04-11 15:46:59
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