Manchester City probably have the best bench strength in all the European clubs combined which is forcing them to bench a world-class full-back in Joao Cancelo, who otherwise would have been most preferred start in any other club.
The Portuguese right-back lost his place to Kyle Walker, who has been Guardiola’s preferred defender since 2016. And the Englishman has proved his mettle every time he has stepped into the mat, but it is the right time for Guardiola to let Cancelo start.
I’ll be talking about why Cancelo should be preferred over Walker and what all will the Portuguese bring into his squad.
At the Etihad, Cancelo is the player that the Champions need more than Kyle Walker who has started looking pale, to say the least. The Englishman has lost his pace, vigor and ability to provide pin-point crosses which are still intact in Cancelo.
Cancelo has some splendid characteristics in his pocket. The outside of the foot flair, explosion of speed, inch-perfect crosses – the Portuguese will most likely support Manchester City’s attacking risk from the back.
The previous Valencia defender has a feeling of ‘box-position‘ intellect, which Guardiola has imparted in this Manchester City side since coming in. He has the sheer capacity to discover little boxes while breaking the line when his group is holding the attack – an authority that he showed during his stay with Juventus.
He is very apt with the ball at his feet and solid in fact, more than equipped for utilizing his short control, expertise and quick change in pace to beat opposition players and winds up so fast that as far as his job is characterized, he can be termed as even more a winger. His defensive capacity isn’t as refined, yet his physicality and quality are the two major factors that had inspired City to spend out near £60m for his mark.
Cancelo can be forceful and direct with his running, just as having the capacity in the last third to choose crosses from the byline. His speed alone stressed even the most experienced defenders.
City like to play attacking football and get things going as opposed to sit back. As Guardiola’s side hope to cut teams into half and attack sharply, ground breaking players like Cancelo is the ideal outlet to extend play and lay down the assault.
His electric pace will be one more weapon in a startling Citizen attire.
