Trevor Sinclair and Shaun Goater have praised Zack Steffen after his display against Burnley, and believe he showed the ‘City DNA’ which is in Manchester City’s goalkeepers.
Steffen was handed the chance to make his first Premier League start of the season due to regular number one Ederson having played for Brazil just over a day beforehand.
Despite the Brazilian’s absence, City eased their way to a 2-0 victory, with Steffen impressing with a solid display to earn a clean sheet for his side.
The American stopper is into his third season at the Etihad, although he has had to make do with mostly FA Cup and Carabao Cup appearances thus far.
His display against the Clarets though demonstrated City have an able deputy to Ederson, with Sinclair seeing parallels with all of the club’s keepers.
“I thought one player who played particularly well was Steffen,” Sinclair told the club’s website.
“It’s in the DNA of City goalkeepers: Ederson is calm on the ball and Steffen is exactly the same, as is the young boy on loan who plays for the Republic of Ireland [Gavin Bazunu]. They all have the same mentality.
“A couple of times in the first half and in the second half, Steffen had to put his body on the line and head the ball but they don’t flinch! They’re exactly the same.
“It was a really impressive performance and the clean sheet will give him a lot of confidence.”
Goater was also impressed with Steffen’s display, and in particular his commanding presence in goal.
“How calm is he?!” Goater said. “I’m panicking as the ball’s going back to him but he’s really calm.
“He’s really showing that composure and calmness you need. He’s finding that pass and City go playing through the thirds.
“In the one-v-one [against Maxwel Cornet], he put himself nice and big.
“He goes and commands that position: ‘I’m in control of this’ and some forwards, who are not calm or not used to that, can panic – as opposed to them being in control of the situation.
“Steffen made two brilliant saves and I liked the way he commanded, making himself really big to make the save.”
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