Sport

Stefan Ortega hailed as Manchester City’s ‘saviour’ as they take control of the title race

While eyebrows were raised over why Ederson wasn't subbed immediately, there can be no question as to who the hero was on the night.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 15th May 2024

Manchester City’s second keeper Stefan Ortega has been hailed as their saviour following his heroics in this week’s penultimate Premier League fixture, with a singular moment that could have very well decided this season’s title race.

Ortega has been relied upon multiple times this season, both in cup competitions and several league fixtures when Ederson has been ruled out – which is exactly what happened following a concerning head injury with around 20 minutes of normal time to go – but never has he stepped up quite like this.

With the Brazilian shot-stopper being forced off for his own good (a decision that left him in tears on the bench), the backup keeper had to play what could prove to be the most important half-hour of football for City this season, with the Blues have never won or even scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It wasn’t long before he was called into action either, as Spurs star and regular scorer whenever the two sides meet, Son, found himself through on goal only for Ortega to produce what will likely go down as the most as the most important save of the season:

Pep was every single City fan watching that Son vs Ortega one-on-one.

Say what you will about the South Korean’s composure at the moment but that is nothing short of a sensational stop given the circumstances.

Manager Pep Guardiola said as much too, insisting to media after the game that “in the one-against-one, he’s one of the best goalkeepers I have ever seen in my life”, adding, “It’s the German culture; stand up, don’t go down. It’s so really, really good… He’s so reliable.”

Pep didn’t mince his words when it came to describing how important that moment was either, stating simply: “Stefan Ortega has saved us. Otherwise, Arsenal are Premier League champions”.

He also lauded City’s keeper trainer, Xabier Mancisidor – who received a yellow card on the night for his protests over the sickening collision that saw Ederson hooked off despite trying to play on – crediting him with the excellent decision in bringing their number 18 to the club.

Ortega could very well go down as the Aguero of the 2023/24 season with that singular moment, with Liverpool legend turned pundit Jamie Carragher going so far on the night as to declare the goalkeeper as having “won Manchester City the title”.

While he might have called a touch early given that the Blues and Arsenal have one massive game each to play just yet, both against sides that have struggled this season too, that save from Ortega could prove to be as important as the Gerrard slip or any other tide-turning moment in a title race.

Guardiola has admitted that Ederson’s injury doesn’t look good, admitting that “he can’t see properly” after being left with a visible black eye following the clash, meaning that he is unlikely to play their last game this Sunday.

Nevertheless, as Ortega proved on the night, he isn’t just capable of filling in for the first-team starter when needed – we can’t think of many rotation keepers who have made themselves more worthy of seeing out a season than the 31-year-old did on Tuesday night.

Read more:

With just West Ham and Everton left to play for the top two, respectively, who knows what could happen on the final day of the season this weekend?

Things could still very come down to goal difference even, but Stefan Ortega did more than his part to make sure that the champions go into the home stretch in control and with Arsenal needing a miracle to stand a chance of beating them to the title.

You can watch the highlights from City’s crucial away win against Spurs, including that incredible save, down below:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Sky Sports (via screenshot)

Sport

Bryan Mbuemo transfer saga looks to finally be over as Manchester United agree deal with Brentford

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bryan Mbeumo to Man United transfer deal done

In one of the biggest transfer sagas of the 2025 summer transfer window, it looks like Manchester United have got their man, as an agreement with Brentford FC is in place and a move for Bryan Mbuemo looks to be a done deal.

Following weeks and weeks of speculation, minor nudges back and forth in the market, it has now been reported that French-born Mbuemo is heading to Man United, having made it apparent that Old Trafford was his desired destination for some time.

As confirmed by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein on Friday, 18 July, the Cameroonian international is expected to be paid for in chunks over the next few years.

Having initially entered a bid of around £45 million before bonuses last month, the west London club stuck to their guns and appear to have got their overall asking price for the player.

According to Ornstein, a trusted transfer source and ever-reliable journalist, United are expected to pay Brentford an estimated £65m for Mbeumo’s signature.

However, with add-ons of approximately £6m, the attacking midfielder’s total price comes out at more than £70m, making his a fee a sales record for a now established Premier League side who have become known as a ‘feeder/selling club’ with excellent recruitment.

It is also said that MUFC and INEOS have arranged for a payment structure that will see the transfer funded over the course of four-year instalments, with a contract valid until 2030 and the option to extend by a further 12 months.

Well-known for using the so-called ‘Moneyball‘ model to their success in recent years, Mbuemo was signed by the Bees back in 2019, when they were still in the Championship, and he cost just £5.8m from ES Troyes AC – also a club record signing at the time.

Fast forward just a few seasons, not to mention 121 goal contributions in all competitions (28 of those coming last season alone), and he’s been deemed worth about 12 times that amount.

Here are just a few reasons why they’ve been after him.

Still just 25 years old, it’s fair to say he fits the balance of age and experience that the club are looking to recruit, as well as boasting a profile that suits the system Ruben Amorim is looking to deploy with his ever-shifting squad.

At least on paper, anyway.

Meanwhile, outgoing deals are still expected to be completed before the end of the summer window, with key first-team players like homegrown Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and loanee Antony all still expected to depart.

Happy with the business, Reds?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Pro:Direct Soccer (screenshot via YouTube)/Pedro Semitiel (via Flickr)

Sport

Stockport school sees under 15s girls football team crowned national champions

Danny Jones Danny Jones Marple Hall School girls under 15s football team win English Schools' FA Cup National Champions

A local Stockport secondary has welcomed home their under-15s girls’ football team as national champions after winning the English Schools’ FA Cup.

Marple Hall School (MHS), located in the south-east part of the old Cheshire borough, is a high-performing educational institution known for its strong investment in youth sport.

Boasting a large sports hall, dedicated 3G footy pitches, MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area), gymnasium, netball and tennis courts, as well as other grass surfaces, many of the town’s nearby clubs make use of the facilities throughout the year.

However, it’s their homegrown talent that is having the spotlight rightfully shone on them this week, as a side of junior female footballers won the prestigious FA tournament for sporting youngsters.

The squad of Year 10 girls – consisting of Marple Hall players aged 14-15 – faced off against Kings Langley last week in the decisive fixture away at Sixways Stadium, home of Worcester City FC and the Worcester Warriors rugby union side.

Following their landmark victory this month, this most recent title has seen them crowned Stockport, Manchester and now National champions, thanks to their 2-1 win in the Development Cup Finals.

Writing in a proud and lengthy post on the school’s website, headteacher Joe Barker described the campaign as “a remarkable run for a remarkable team” and a “thoroughly deserved” trophy, despite coming up against a “really strong team” travelling from the Hertfordshire village.

Barker went on to add: “Team MHS were supported so well by the travelling family and friends, and of course by the 44 students who made their presence known in the stands. Outnumbered but certainly not outvoiced, the chants from team MHS were non-stop and so supportive.

“Not only that, but the whole school got behind the team with the tie live-streamed into every classroom and our halls over lunch.

“My colleagues tell me that they have never felt an atmosphere like it at MHS, the whole school site reverberating to the cheers when the teams came out, when Penny scored her two amazing goals, and at the final whistle.”

He even cited an anecdote of one young pupil telling fellow teacher Miss Gregory: “This is a really mint day for our school, isn’t it, miss? I’m really glad I come here!” He was responding to the moment the aforementioned Stopfordian star, Penny Hallos, scored an audacious backheel to make it a brace.

Unsurprisingly, she earned the player of the match award for her game-winning efforts.

To make things even sweeter, the incredible achievement was also recognised in the House of Commons, with Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart motioning to toast their success among her fellow peers.

Celebrating not just the English championship but their Treble-winning year, Smart declared: “The whole of the town is incredibly proud of these girls for their achievements. 

“My recent hundredth speech in Parliament was on ensuring that girls and young women were given the opportunities to participate in sport, and it is fantastic to be able to celebrate these young women who are doing just that.

“It’s great to be able to help celebrate their national success at Parliament, and I look forward to them achieving wonderful things going forward.”

Better still, nearly £1,500 was raised on top of the fund collected in order to help get the girls to the ground on matchday, and all that money is going directly towards further sports provision for the girls and young women’s sport, specifically.

You can watch the game in full down below, but we’ve highlighted that ingenious second strike from Hallos for you (rewind to around 41:45 to see her equaliser).

Congrats again to the SK, Greater Mancunian and now National champions – we hope we go on to see plenty of your names up in lights soon enough.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Marple Hall/English Schools’ Football Association/Stockport County (via X)

More Sport

Bury FC respond to Noel Gallagher's 'shit' comments

Audio

Bury FC clap back at Oasis after Noel Gallagher’s dig at Heaton Park reunion show

Kolo Toure joins Man City coaching staff permanently

Sport

Kolo Touré joins Manchester City’s backroom staff on a permanent basis

Jimmy Anderson signs for Manchester Originals The Hundred

Sport

England cricket legend Sir James Anderson joins Manchester Originals for The Hundred 2025

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches