Interview with Stefan Ortega Moreno after he signed Man City contract extension to 2026
Courtesy of Manchester City FC
Etihad training campus, Manchester, UK
Courtesy of Manchester City FC
Etihad training campus, Manchester, UK
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Stefan, congratulations on this new Manchester City deal.
00:04 This must be a very proud and happy moment for you.
00:07 Yeah, definitely.
00:09 So it's now two years ago when I signed for City
00:14 and what happened in these two years is incredible.
00:18 And I think just me as a person,
00:22 I'm a completely different person now than two years ago
00:26 and that means a lot for me.
00:29 You touched on it there, you've spent two years at City
00:32 and it's been a very, very successful period for the football club.
00:35 How do you reflect on your time in Manchester so far?
00:39 Really successful.
00:42 We won a lot of trophies, the treble last year.
00:45 Since I'm here, we're just breaking records and records.
00:50 So it's nice to be a part of this special crew
00:54 because before I joined I was a bit scared
00:59 how the team is, how the players are and the staff around.
01:02 But from day one, if you just join this building,
01:07 you're just happy because everyone is so friendly,
01:11 tries to help you and even the players.
01:14 So they're all different, but it's so funny to join them every day.
01:19 Last season we made it four Premier League titles in a row,
01:22 which is a hugely historical achievement.
01:24 It's never been done in English football.
01:26 How special is it to be part of moments like that
01:29 that you know are going to be remembered for the rest of time?
01:32 A lot. I remember after the West Ham game
01:35 when I saw all the players who reached the four Premier League in a row,
01:40 just the faces, how happy they are.
01:44 It was really nice to be a part of it,
01:48 especially now this season.
01:50 I felt that I brought a bit more than last season.
01:54 So it was another great year.
01:58 You've had a really good season personally.
02:00 You played 20 times in all competitions
02:03 and you made some really vital contributions along the way as well.
02:06 How happy are you with your performance level right now?
02:10 I'm really happy because I think the first year was quite good.
02:16 It was just one of the targets to hold the level
02:20 or try in some moments to grow up a bit more.
02:25 I was really happy after all the games
02:29 because I would say it was maybe just a little bit better than last season.
02:39 We have to talk about the save against Tottenham Hotspur.
02:43 That was in our penultimate Premier League game.
02:46 It was a huge moment, 1v1 against Sona,
02:49 a player who has given us so many problems in the past.
02:52 That was a really key contribution in terms of securing four in a row.
02:57 What was the reaction in the dressing room from your teammates
03:00 after making such a vital save?
03:04 I think everyone knew after the game
03:08 there's no reason to lose the Premier League
03:11 because this game was the main game for the Premier League.
03:16 Everyone was talking about this game, how tough Tottenham is.
03:20 We just scored the first goal in the FA Cup.
03:23 I knew it's not our favourite place where we play.
03:30 After the game it was just happy faces.
03:34 Everyone was a bit like, I don't know how you say it,
03:37 but the pressure was a bit gone.
03:41 It was a nice and easy celebration.
03:46 Explain to those of us who have never played football,
03:49 what does it feel like in a moment where you make a save like that?
03:53 Is it pure adrenaline?
03:56 When your teammates are coming over to congratulate you,
03:58 how does it feel in that moment?
04:01 To be fair, it was a bit too much for me.
04:03 I don't like it to be the main person
04:07 because at the end it's just what I'm doing every day.
04:11 I try to save balls.
04:15 At the end it's not more than that.
04:18 You came off the bench for that game, the Tottenham game,
04:21 and you were so cool and calm.
04:23 I remember a game earlier in the season away at Liverpool
04:26 where you had to come off the bench
04:29 and the atmosphere that day was really intense.
04:32 You seemed to be the coolest man in the stadium.
04:35 How do you do that?
04:37 How do you manage to stay so composed in moments like that?
04:40 First of all, to play in this team is easy
04:45 because the quality here is so high.
04:49 This is one point.
04:51 The other point is, like I said before,
04:54 it's just what I want to do and what I do every day.
04:59 The surroundings are a bit different, but this is what we want.
05:03 Play in big stadiums, nice atmospheres, for trophies.
05:08 There's no point for me to be scared or nervous.
05:13 You mentioned the quality of the team.
05:15 I just want to focus on the defence in particular.
05:18 We've got a very, very settled back line
05:20 and world-class players right across.
05:22 As a goalkeeper, there's nothing better than that,
05:26 is there, to inspire confidence in you?
05:28 Yeah, of course.
05:30 If you see all of our defenders, we have a lot of different players,
05:35 but it doesn't matter who plays.
05:38 It's always the same because everyone knows each other so well.
05:43 For example, if we have Kyle on the right side,
05:46 we know his qualities.
05:49 If you go for Kanji, we know his qualities.
05:52 It's easy to get used to it.
05:59 What are the qualities of each player?
06:02 Then, of course, if the quality is so high,
06:05 it's not that difficult to find the rhythm.
06:07 Talk to me a little bit about Pep.
06:09 He's now won 17 major trophies during his time at City.
06:14 That's in eight seasons, which is a remarkable record.
06:19 What's it like working with him and his team every day?
06:23 Sometimes it's really hard because he tries to be perfect,
06:28 but obviously everyone knows that to be perfect is impossible.
06:33 But it's just enjoyable because if you work under Pep,
06:41 he opens your view of football in a completely new way.
06:46 It's incredible.
06:47 For example, when I watch football now,
06:49 I watch it so differently than before.
06:53 You get so many inputs of Pep,
06:57 which you realise after a bit of time.
07:01 He's incredible. He's a top guy.
07:04 It's a privilege to be part of him as well.
07:13 You work very closely with Xabi Mancicidor, our goalkeeping coach,
07:17 who Pep says is the best in the world.
07:20 Tell me about him, because he's someone who presumably
07:24 has pushed you and tried to make you better
07:26 during your two years at City.
07:28 Yes, of course.
07:29 I would say him and Rich are the most important guys for me.
07:34 The way we work is so important for me
07:38 because we have on one side the work every day
07:42 to be better and better every day.
07:44 But he doesn't forget the other side,
07:46 to be relaxed, enjoy the moments,
07:49 have fun in the goalkeeper group.
07:51 We are a special group and a big team.
07:55 It's just one who can play, so it's not easy all the time.
08:01 Our goalkeeper department is one of the best I've ever had.
08:06 Do you feel you're still improving as a goalkeeper?
08:09 Yes, a lot.
08:10 It's just small details that you can change.
08:15 In this case, Xabi is incredible, what he sees in you.
08:20 He's a guy who doesn't try to change you as a person and as a keeper.
08:27 He's just there, for example, like, "You do this in this way,
08:31 try it in the other way.
08:33 If you don't like it, you don't like it. Do it in your way.
08:35 But just try it."
08:37 It's not a pressure to change just for him.
08:40 He's just like, "Be there for you and try to bring the best of you."
08:47 Let's talk about Manchester more generally.
08:49 You seem very settled.
08:51 I remember you talking to us on the Man City podcast
08:54 about how your family is settled in Manchester as well.
08:57 What does Manchester offer you and your family
08:59 that gives you that stability?
09:04 The calmness to enjoy life outside of football.
09:08 Of course, Man City as a club is amazing in helping players
09:14 to feel comfy where we are.
09:17 The first point is incredible.
09:20 There's nothing that City can't do for us players.
09:25 And then, of course, we are here for two years now.
09:29 We know the area quite well.
09:32 We found some friends outside of football.
09:35 The little one is in the nursery.
09:38 There are so many things that are helping me to be calm and relaxed
09:46 because I know my family is in a good place here.
09:50 What reaction do you get from City fans when you're around town?
09:54 If any of them see you around, what reception do you receive from Blues?
10:00 It changed a bit now.
10:02 I think I would say I'm a bit more popular now.
10:06 But it's all right.
10:08 This is one of the things I like in Manchester.
10:10 The people are not like--
10:12 If they see you, they don't rush to you and disturb you.
10:15 They're really respectful.
10:17 This is what I really like here.
10:19 Even if you, for example, go in a pub with football, have a beer,
10:25 they're just chilled.
10:26 You can talk to everyone and it's just like--
10:31 It's a really good place where you can live because of the people here.
10:38 Looking ahead then, you've now got a contract until 2026.
10:43 That gives you some stability now.
10:45 You can focus on the next couple of seasons.
10:48 What are your hopes and aspirations for the rest of your time at City?
10:54 Of course, try to get the number one spot.
10:57 This is why I signed for Man City.
11:00 Then, of course, just do the same like the two years before.
11:05 Try to win a lot of trophies but enjoy life as well
11:10 because life is too short sometimes to not enjoy life.
11:16 I think this is the best place where I can be a good person and a good footballer.
11:23 Well, Stefan, we've really enjoyed watching you.
11:25 Congratulations on this new deal and good luck for the rest of your time at City.
11:29 Thank you very much. More to come.
11:31 [City of Toronto logo]