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‘Just crazy’ – Pep Guardiola accused of going ‘mad’ after Man City transfer decision

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Pep Guardiola was heavily criticised for his squad selection after Manchester City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, with Chris Sutton believing Joao Cancelo was missed in North London.

Rico Lewis started in a makeshift left-back role and was culpable for the winning goal, having his pocket pinched by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who set up Harry Kane to score. Had Cancelo still been at the club, he might have started on the left so Lewis could be in his favoured right-back position.

On deadline day, Cancelo surprisingly joined Bayern Munich on loan until the end of the season and Sutton called the decision ‘crazy’. The 28-year-old leaving meant Guardiola only had Lewis, Walker and Sergio Gomez as natural fullbacks.

Sutton wrote for the Daily Mail: ‘After dropping Kevin De Bruyne and sending Joao Cancelo on loan, Pep Guardiola is coming across as the mad professor with the decisions he’s making – they aren’t doing Manchester City much good.

‘I still can’t wrap my head around Cancelo. I’d love to know what went on between him and Guardiola, how and why City felt they could afford to let him leave.

‘It screams of the manager cutting off his nose to spite his face. City are worse off without Cancelo. They lost him and lost to Tottenham while he was winning with Bayern at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.’

Cancelo made 26 appearances in all competitions for City before leaving, scoring two goals with seven assists. The Portuguese international was outstanding last season, contributing 13 goals from 52 games across the board, but his form dipped this campaign.

Guardiola dropped him from the starting lineup and was given an ultimatum from the player that was accepted by  the club. Cancelo threatened to leave and was granted a move away, but a replacement wasn’t brought in before the winter transfer window closed.

In other news, Jamie Carragher says Erling Haaland may regret joining Man City

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He joined from Newcastle in 2000 and left to join FC Sochaux in 2003

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