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Pep Guardiola may have problem with 28 y/o after two underwhelming performances [Opinion]

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Manchester City have so far failed to sign a left-back over the summer, forcing Pep Guardiola to stick with Joao Cancelo in the makeshift role while Kyle Walker stays on the right.

The 28-year-old was outstanding at left-back last season, keeping Oleksandr Zinchenko out of the starting eleven on merit, but he’s looked human this campaign which may start to worry Pep Guardiola.

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Cancelo put in a poor performance in Man City’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in the Community Shield on July 30 and was exposed by Mohamed Salah countless times. The Portuguese international was beaten in one-v-ones by a player who had a hand in 47 goals last season, but he won’t face Salah every week.

City’s 2-0 win over West Ham on August 7 saw Cancelo put in a better offensive performance, but he still struggled defensively. Sean Walsh of 90min gave the 28-year-old a player rating of 6/10 and said he had some ‘garish moments’.

Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News gave Cancelo a player rating of 6/10 and said he had a ‘sticky start’ after relinquishing possession but did get more comfortable as the game went on. Only Ruben Dias gave away more foul than Cancelo against West Ham and the latter picked up a booking.

It’s still early in the season, but Guardiola will surely want another left-back signed before the transfer window shuts.

Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte can operate in the makeshift role while Josh Wilson-Esbrand is a future option, but Guardiola has to replace Zinchenko after his move to Arsenal.

In other news, player may be pushing to leave Man City despite previous Pep Guardiola statement

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.

0 comments

  • Stanley James Duncan says:

    Desperate stuff. Name a Premier league club who would not play Cancelo? Yep. None. First match of the season a two nil win away to West Ham which gives City an extra two points and a three goal shift from when they played Tottenham first match of last season. No goals conceded but Liverpool and VVD conceding two to a newly promoted team. If Cancelo was a 6 what was VVD a 4 prob. Cancelo may make the errant pass here and there and he is a mardi guy but he is an essential cog in the City machine.

  • ALAN MEADOWS says:

    Ok he may not be the best defensively, but he was superb in an attacking and creative sense and worth far more than the 6

  • Steve says:

    The Community Shield is a friendly game to kick the season off and means nothing! Now, one game in Cabcelo is a problem??? Write something worth reading with a little substance!

  • Dennis pollard says:

    A very poor article using ratings from very poor quality reporter’s adds
    up to a very poor 0/10 for this article.

  • S farrell says:

    Friendly suggestion – please stick to talking about your own team. You clearly have zero idea of what you are talking about with regards to Man City. Thanks.

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