“He Can Leave Now!”—Man City Fans Demand one Player should Be Sold Immediately After Costly 4-3 Defeat to Al-Hilal
Supporters blast goalkeeper for “terrible performance” after two big mistakes lead to shock Club World Cup exit – some say the rebuild should start with him.
Manchester City fans are calling for a major shake-up — and goalkeeper Ederson is at the centre of the storm after a chaotic 4-3 defeat to Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup last-16.
Despite Manchester City fighting back twice in the match — with goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden cancelling out Al-Hilal’s lead — it was Marcus Leonardo’s late winner that sealed City’s shocking exit from the tournament. But the anger wasn’t just about the result — it was the manner in which they lost.
Ederson, usually seen as one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted players, was blamed by fans for two of the four goals conceded. The 31-year-old was twice caught parrying the ball into dangerous areas, including directly into Leonardo’s path for what turned out to be the winner in extra time.
One furious fan posted on social media:
“At this point, Ederson, it’s okay. You can leave. We need a new goalkeeper.”
Another supporter added:
“If Ederson was Al-Hilal’s keeper tonight, they’d have lost 6-0.”
Some fans even suggested that City’s summer rebuild should start by replacing the Brazilian:
“This rebuild should have started with Ederson.”
The criticism continued online with fans questioning Ederson’s overall importance to the team, especially when it comes to his basic shot-stopping duties.
“He can’t even make saves — that’s your main job as a goalkeeper!” one angry supporter wrote.
Ederson’s stats from the match don’t help his case. He made only two saves, didn’t register a single high claim, and recorded a negative goal prevention figure of -0.36, highlighting his struggles in goal. The Brazilian, who recently claimed he wanted to stay at Manchester City, now faces real pressure from fans and pundits alike to improve or step aside.
City had looked strong heading into the tournament after winning all three group stage matches, including a 5-2 thrashing of Juventus. But against Al-Hilal, familiar defensive issues resurfaced — and Ederson’s form has now become a hot topic.
Manchester City will now turn their focus back to domestic competitions, but the backlash from this early exit could have a lasting impact — especially for Ederson, who may no longer be untouchable between the sticks.
