The Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has called for the automatic replacement of players who are involved in a clash of heads after Raúl Jiménez sustained a fractured skull in a collision with David Luiz in Wolves’ win at Arsenal on Sunday.
Jiménez was taken to hospital, where he had surgery, immediately after the 15th-minute incident, but David Luiz played on until half-time before being substituted. In September 2017, Ederson needed eight stitches in his face after a high challenge from Sadio Mané led to his being taken off on a stretcher during City’s 5-0 home win against Liverpool.
“I was very worried,” Ederson said of the incident between his Brazilian compatriot and former Benfica teammate Jiménez. “It was an accidental clash, head-to-head. All the concern and care [for all players] is very important. It is a part of the body that is very fragile and needs special attention.
“When there is a blow to the head there should be a substitution whether the player can continue or not. You might be feeling OK at the time, but after the game you feel the consequences. It wasn’t an intentional blow, they went to compete for the ball, but we know the risks of a head injury. I hope he returns quickly and is back as soon as possible.”
Pep Guardiola, Ederson’s manager, said: “Hopefully Jiménez and David Luiz are well. Of course you have to be careful. Some say [any player should go] immediately out of the game – in the head it’s always so dangerous.”
Guardiola, whose City side face the Portuguese champions in the return match at the Estádio do Dragão on Tuesday having already qualified from Group C of the Champions League, also denied the claim from the Porto manager, Sérgio Conceição, that he and his staff tried to influence the officials during City’s 3-1 home win in October.
Asked about Conceicao’s comments, Guardiola said: “I’m not agreeing. We didn’t pressure the ref, we are not this type of team to do this kind of thing. I’d admit it [if we were]. Sure, if there’s an [isolated] action you do not agree OK. The five years we are here, our behaviour speaks for itself.”
Conceicao had said: “I’ve got a lot to learn from Pep Guardiola, the way he pressures referees, talks to opposition players and opposition dugout. He’s a fantastic example. We were angels compared to the other dugout.”
Sergio Agüero could not train on Monday because of the “niggle in his knee” that prevented his participation in the 5-0 win against Burnley on Saturday
