Man City fans want one player sold immediately after shock Club World Cup defeat to Al Hilal

Manchester City fans did not expect to be talking about defeat when they gathered to watch their team in the FIFA Club World Cup against Al Hilal. It was supposed to be a routine night, a chance to see the best of Europe show their power against a Saudi Arabian club. Pep Guardiola’s men came into the game with the weight of being champions of Europe, one of the greatest teams in the modern era, loaded with superstars, and with a manager who had revolutionized football.

But the reality turned out to be a nightmare that will be remembered for a long time by City supporters around the world. They watched in shock as their heroes crashed out in the round of 16 after a wild, chaotic, and painful 4-3 defeat that left the entire fanbase fuming. The main target of their anger was their goalkeeper, Ederson, once seen as the calm commander of City’s back line, now accused of costing them the game, the trophy, and their pride. The Camping World Stadium in the United States was filled with hope at kickoff. City wore their famous sky-blue shirts, Guardiola prowled the sideline giving instructions with intensity, and fans around the world tuned in expecting a show. But from the start, there were signs of trouble. Al Hilal, far from being intimidated, pressed high, broke quickly, and showed no fear.

Bernardo Silva’s early goal seemed to confirm the usual City script. A neat move, a calm finish, and Guardiola applauded while the bench celebrated. But City’s dominance was an illusion. Al Hilal refused to fold. Marcos Leonardo equalized with a well-placed finish that exposed gaps in City’s defense. Before the first half was over, Malcom—once a Barcelona winger—drove home to make it 2-1.

Suddenly, the stadium was buzzing with disbelief. Guardiola screamed at his players to stay calm, but on the sidelines, he looked rattled. City’s defense was too open. Fans watching at home started to mutter about déjà vu, remembering other big matches where City had let leads slip.

Erling Haaland, City’s goal machine, answered with an equalizer in the 55th minute. For a moment, it felt like City would recover. Haaland roared, the players embraced, and Guardiola punched the air. But Al Hilal would not give up. They attacked with courage and skill. In extra time, Kalidou Koulibaly headed in a corner to make it 3-2. Phil Foden, refusing to give up, produced a moment of magic to level again. But the night had one last cruel twist. Marcos Leonardo struck again in the 112th minute, delivering the fatal blow that left City players collapsing in disappointment.

At the final whistle, Al Hilal’s players celebrated wildly. City’s players were on the ground. Haaland stared into the distance, Guardiola walked onto the pitch to shake hands but looked like a man in pain.

The reaction was instant and brutl. Social media exploded. City fans turned their anger on Ederson, who had endured a nightmare. He faced four shots on target and conceded all four goals. They accused him of not even trying to save the shots. Screenshots of the goals were shared everywhere, showing Ederson flat-footed, beaten, or diving late.

“We lost because of Ederson and poor finishing. Two things that cost us last year,” one fan wrote. It got thousands of likes. Another simply said, “Ederson If I speak I’m in trouble,” mocking the infamous José Mourinho line, knowing it implied the truth was too damning. A third fan, sounding defeated, added, “3 shots on target, 3 goals conceded. Sorry Ederson but I can’t defend you anymore.” Another posted, “Ederson hasn’t attempted to save a shot since the treble season I swear,” capturing the rage of a supporter who felt the keeper had stopped caring.

It wasn’t just angry rants. There was genuine heartbreak. Videos showed City fans in pubs with heads in their hands. Some called for Ederson to be sold immediately, saying he was finished at the top level. Others remembered the endless debates with Liverpool fans about Alisson vs Ederson, now admitting those debates looked foolish. “Proper shameless behaviour,” one wrote. “Ederson hasn’t made a single save this game, nor has he even tried to. Embarrassing,” another said. The anger was raw and personal.

Ederson has been a hero for City. He’s famous for his calmness on the ball, his passing range that lets City play their style. But critics have always said he’s not a great shot-stopper. Against Al Hilal, those criticisms exploded. Some fans went deeper, blaming Pep Guardiola’s tactics for leaving Ederson so exposed. But even they admitted he should have done better. “We allowed them to create transitions,” Guardiola admitted after the match. “But we created a lot and in general we were good.” He tried to be gracious, praising his staff, saying the team would rest and come back next season.

But City’s fans weren’t buying it. They didn’t want to hear about transitions or possession stats. They wanted a trophy. The Club World Cup was supposed to be the cherry on top of their legacy, a sign they ruled the world. Instead, they were sent home early, humiliated by a team many dismissed as underdogs. Al Hilal, celebrating wildly, earned praise from neutrals. Marcos Leonardo became an instant hero. Their fans chanted, waved flags, and filled social media with taunts for City. “We beat the champions of Europe,” they bragged.

For City, the pain was doubled because they’d been planning for this. They’d trained hard, traveled far, and Guardiola wanted it badly. He had spoken about the importance of winning every possible trophy. The players too wanted to show they were the best in the world. Instead, they flew home in shame. Guardiola told reporters it was time to rest and refresh their minds. But the fans refused to move on. Hashtags calling for Ederson to be sold trended. Memes mocked the team. Critics questioned whether City were losing their hunger.

Ederson himself didn’t speak after the match. The images told the story. He walked off the field slowly, head down, ignoring cameras. His teammates gave him half-hearted pats on the back. Even Haaland, usually all smiles, was stone-faced. It was a meltdown that went beyond one game. For many City fans, it was a warning that the squad needed changes. Some called for a new keeper. Others said the defense was too soft. A few even questioned Guardiola’s tactics, asking if he had been too stubborn to adapt.

He had been untouchable for years. The first keeper to redefine the role with his passing. The man who let City build from the back. Guardiola once called him the best in the world at what he does. But now, even Guardiola’s words sounded hollow to many fans.

The debate raged on talk shows. Pundits tried to be balanced, saying Ederson was let down by his defense. But clips of him standing still on goals went viral. Analysts slowed them down frame by frame, showing his late reactions. Former goalkeepers said he looked distracted, even lazy.

City fans remembered the Champions League final against Chelsea in 2021 when Ederson was partly blamed. They recalled slip-ups last season, games where he didn’t make big saves. They started to wonder if this was the end of the road for their trusted Brazilian. But Guardiola is famously loyal to his players. He has protected Ederson many times. In press conferences, he refused to criticize him directly. He insisted the whole team was responsible.

Yet behind the scenes, there were whispers. Would City go for another keeper? Was Ederson’s place in danger? Scouts had been watching young talents. Stefan Ortega, City’s backup keeper, had impressed in cup games. Some fans even said he should be number one now. Others wanted a big signing. Links emerged with other top goalkeepers in Europe. Rumors swirled about bids in the next transfer window. But in the short term, the pain was raw. City fans just wanted someone to blame. And Ederson was the obvious target.

Meanwhile, Al Hilal moved on to the next round, ready to face Fluminense after the Brazilian side knocked out Inter Milan. The Club World Cup went on without City, with fans around the world watching to see if the Saudi champions could go all the way.

For City, it was an embarrassing exit. They had to watch from home, licking their wounds. For Guardiola, it was a failure to add the one trophy he had never won with City. For the players, it was a brutal lesson in complacency. The result also gave fuel to City’s critics in England, who accused them of spending billions but lacking heart. Rivals mocked them online, making jokes about the ‘best team in the world’ losing to Al Hilal. Memes flooded Twitter and Instagram.

But it was the fans who suffered most. They had believed the hype. They had bragged about winning everything. Now they had to watch the celebrations of their opponents. In City forums, there were long discussions about where it went wrong. Some blamed tactics. Others said they needed new players. But the loudest voices were those demanding Ederson’s exit.

He had become the face of the collapse. Fair or not, that’s how football works. One mistake can make you a villain. Ederson will have to live with it. Whether he stays or goes, he will remember the night in the United States when City fans turned on him, when the dream of the Club World Cup was destroyed, and when the questions about his future began to get very real.

As the team flew home, Guardiola sat alone on the plane, thinking about what needed to change. The players were silent, headphones in, watching movies, pretending nothing had happened. But they all knew. The world had watched them fail. For City fans, it was one of the darkest nights in recent memory. Not because the Club World Cup is the most important trophy, but because they had been so sure of winning. The shock hurt more than any normal loss.

And in the middle of it all was Ederson, the hero turned scapegoat, a reminder that in football, legends can become villains overnight. Now all eyes are on what happens next. Will City back him? Will Guardiola make changes? Or will this be the start of the end for Ederson in Manchester?