Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Man City goalkeeper Ederson forgives Sadio Mane over kick to head

MANCHESTER -- Ederson has told Liverpool striker Sadio Mane not to worry about the kick to the head that led to the Manchester City goalkeeper needing eight stitches in his face.

Mane was sent off and given a three-match ban after catching Ederson with his studs in the 5-0 defeat to City earlier this month.

The Senegal striker told ESPN FC that he wanted to call Ederson to discuss the incident and the keeper revealed to reporters after Saturday's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace that he had received a message from him.

"Yes, I had contact with him, he sent me a message," the 24-year-old said. "I told him to stay calm, those things happen inside the pitch, it could happen anytime. I told him to not worry and wished him a good season."

Ederson received eight minutes of treatment on the pitch after the incident before being taken off the pitch on a stretcher. However, he was back in action four days later wearing a protective helmet in the 4-0 Champions League win over with Feyenoord and said he would have liked to have continued against Liverpool.

"I felt a strong kick, but I was always conscious," he added. "I knew it had been a long cut. I wanted to keep playing but, for medical issues, I couldn't keep playing.

"But I was always conscious, even if I had my face a little bit swollen. But after a week it was normal again. In the same week, I was ready to play in Champions League. I faced that game full of confidence again, without any fear and happy for the result we achieved."

Other than the injury, Ederson has made a confident start to life at the Etihad Stadium following his £34.7 million move from Portuguese champions Benfica in the summer. 

He has been beaten just twice all season as City moved top of the Premier League and has not conceded a goal in his last 408 minutes on the pitch.

"It's been positive," he said of his start. "I want to highlight the teamwork that we have been showing inside the pitch. What we work in our day-to-day we try to show it on match days. It's working well so far.

"My teammates and I are doing a good job, they are helping me a lot, I have a lot of confidence and I try to help my teammates as much as I can."

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