Stefan Ortega is not coming to Manchester City to be a No.2 forever - even if he lets in the odd goal to Erling Haaland.
Ortega has arrived from Arminia Bielefeld, where he earned a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga last season. He will provide fresh competition for Ederson, with Zack Steffen heading out on loan to Middlesbrough to get some game time ahead of the World Cup.
The new City signing is not used to sitting on the bench, having been a regular at previous clubs for the majority of his career. And while he accepts that he will have to start that way at the Etihad, he is keen to take his game to the next level under goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor.
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"At first, to improve and try to learn. Then I will push Ederson and show my best performance and reach a new level. Now I'm good but it's not the limit," he said.
"Man City is a big club so they need in every position many guys in the top level. I'll try to push Ederson in the big level, learn from Scott Carson who has experience. From day one I will try my best.
"I'm clear I want to play, not be on the bench but I know the situation. It's the first time for me I have a goalkeeper coach from a different country, I will be interested to see how I can learn from the different cultures - and them learning from me."
On signing for the club, Ortega teased the fact that Haaland had not scored against him in previous games together in the Bundesliga. And having already reminded the forward of that fact when they met up on Sunday, he joked that he would probably lift him up in training rather than keep him grounded by letting him score because the Norwegian striker needed the confidence.
" Hopefully I'll keep him grounded, in training it's easier for him to score against me because he needs the confidence more than me!" he said.
"His transformation is outstanding. When I saw him the first time in Salzburg he was a bit thin, now he's a monster. With the size and feet and shooting quality he's the full package."
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