Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he has made a decision on who will take the club’s next penalty. Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus have missed from the spot this season, and there has been some talk that goalkeeper Ederson could step up from 12 yards.
Guardiola didn’t go as far to say who he has picked to take over penalty duties, though, and supporters on Twitter have been speculating over who will be the likeliest candidate:
Please be ederson pep
— Simon Conway (@ConwaySimon) 24 January 2020
KDB or Rodri
— KopatychInFightFootballMood (@KopatychInMood) 25 January 2020
Brilliant!! Love Pep ?
— Linda Holden (@linda_holden767) 24 January 2020
Watch us not get a single penalty now ?
— Moonbeams Little Sister (@MoonbeamsLittle) 24 January 2020
He doesn’t know
— Nathan Allen (@nallensports) 24 January 2020
When aguero is on the pitch it's him. When he's not playing its going to be difficult as we rotate so much
— Adriano Ferrigno10 (@AdrianoFerrigno) 25 January 2020
Plz be Ederson since he is a must starter
— RM7 ?? (@MahrezzSZN) 24 January 2020
Aguero Gundogan Rodri, in that order
— ?️hoenix (@TwelfthBlue_) 24 January 2020
Sergio or KDB or Gundongan
— James Cottrell (@james_ctid) 24 January 2020
Ederson to be our penalty taker next season and win the golden boot and golden glove and league
— Bad Energy⚡ (@BadEnergee) 24 January 2020
Kevin De Bruyne would be a standout contender considering his excellent technique and composure, but the Belgian has only ever taken one penalty for City (which he missed) and there is a feeling that he is not comfortable when taking spot-kicks.
The alternatives are not particularly obvious. Riyad Mahrez could be called upon if he is on the pitch but his conversion rate isn’t particularly high either. Ilkay Gundogan would be another option, but there is every chance that the responsibility could fall to Ederson as well.