Ederson on the strange secret behind his insane kicking ability | OneFootball

Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

Dan Burke·13 January 2019

Ederson on the strange secret behind his insane kicking ability

Article image:Ederson on the strange secret behind his insane kicking ability

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson says the reason he can kick so powerfully is because he was raised on a diet of couscous and eggs.

Ederson has become renowned for being able to kick the ball hard and far since joining City from Benfica last summer and earlier this season, he even managed to assist a Sergio Agüero goal in his side’s 6-1 win over Huddersfield.


OneFootball Videos


“The assist to Agüero was a play that we rehearsed in practice before the game,” the 25-year-old told ESPN Brasil.

“Pep [Guardiola] said it was going to happen, and it happened. I could be happy with the pass, he could be happy in the finishing. It’s a very good feeling to see your team-mates running and hugging you.”

And the Brazil international claims one of his favourite dishes is responsible for his strong legs.

“The long kick is something I’ve always had with me. I always kicked hard,” he added.

“And I remember that once when my mother went to see a game of Benfica, [former Brazil goalkeeper] Júlio César even asked her what she gave to me when I was little.

“She said ‘couscous with egg’, and I eat a lot of couscous with egg to this day, it’s something I like very much. So the secret can be there, it has to be it.”

Ederson is also famous for his cool, calm and collected approach to playing the ball out with his feet, with the most recent example coming during City’s win away at Southampton.

And he says playing futsal back in his homeland as a youngster is what helped hone his ball skills.

“I played football and futsal. The whole week I played football and weekend I played futsal, disputed championships,” he said.

“I played fly goalkeeper, there were one or two championships I was the vice-top scorer. I scored a lot of goals. And that was good, I liked it.

“It’s a good feeling to score a goal on the court, because on the field I’ve never had that pleasure. I’ve had it, but it was at the academy, it’s a special moment.”

And he wasn’t lying. During his time at Benfica’s academy, he once scored a goal from inside his own penalty box!

City will be hoping to trim Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table back to four points when they host Wolves on Monday evening, and Ederson has offered an insight into why England’s top flight is such a strong league.

“It’s very competitive football. So every move you do, you have to be very determined,” he said.

“If you stay halfway, you end up harming yourself and your team. So you have to think faster, it’s very strong football.”