Stefan Ortega sends warning to Manchester City pair Pep Guardiola and Ederson following four-game streak

Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has issued a warning message to pair Pep Guardiola and Ederson after a series of successive starts.

The 31-year-old, who is currently stalling contract extension talks at the Etihad Stadium ahead of entering the final 12-months of his current deal, has featured in Manchester City’s last four matches amid injury issues for Ederson.

Stefan Ortega has stepped up in the absence of the Brazilian goalkeeper, with Ederson having been sidelined due to a muscular injury since a collision with Darwin Nunez at Anfield last month, during Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

The German shot-stopper had been linked with a return to the Bundesliga last summer, and could be sold by the club at the end of the campaign, with negotiations surrounding a new deal currently at an impasse.

Ortega moved to Manchester City on a free transfer in July 2022 from Arminia Bielefeld, and the keeper has made 27 appearances for the Sky Blues to date.

The goalkeeper has played in the Blues’ last four fixtures across all competitions and could feature against both Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Ortega kept a clean sheet against Arsenal last weekend, and made a number of crucial saves during Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League.

The 31-year-old has issued a defiant message to Guardiola following a series of recent starts, with Ortega revealing a hope to remain first-choice at the Etihad Stadium, even after Ederson returns from injury.

“Now I have four big games in a row. I think I did well, I showed all the people can trust me,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“The manager has to decide what he wants. I just can show my performances on the pitch and in training and in the end I don’t know what will happen.

“But it’s all about the team and if I have to go back on the bench it will be hard for me, yes, but we have to support everyone.”

A return date for Ederson is currently unknown, with City facing a further eight matches across all competitions in April, including an Emirates FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium against Chelsea.