Patient Cancelo determined to make the most of his first-team opportunity and force Walker to fight hard to get it back
JOAO CANCELO is determined to grab his chance at Manchester City - which is bad news for Kyle Walker.
Cancelo has had to wait for his moment at City since his £60million switch from Juventus in the summer. The Portuguese defender made his full Blues debut against Preston in the EFL Cup last month and has started the last three games.
Cancelo (left), 25, is expected to continue tonight against Atalanta as Walker completes his recovery from a stomach virus and is strengthening his claims to be City’s No.1 right-back.
He says he came to the Etihad because he felt he would learn so much under Pep Guardiola.
“I came here to learn,” said
Cancelo. “Pep, I think, is the best manager in today’s football. It’s true it took me some time to learn, but what’s important is that the club wins.
“I was happy to wait for my moment and when I finally had an opportunity to play, I did that and the team won.”
Guardiola admired Cancelo for months before City signed him and believes he can compete with Walker.
Walker (below), who returned to training on Sunday, lost his place in the England squad to Aaron Wan
Bissaka in August and now faces another fight to hang on to his Blues’ spot.
Cancelo claims he will continue to develop under Guardiola and has no doubts City can win the Champions League under the Catalan.
“When I play for him I always learn something,” said the former Inter
Milan, Valencia and Benfica defender. “That’s exactly what I am doing. My aim has been to win the Champions
League since I was a child.
“I came here to try and achieve that.
“Juventus also wants to win, but I came here because this is my type of football. Manchester City is
PWone of the teams that can win the Champions League, no doubt about it. The same can be said of Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona.” Cancelo knows what it is like to play for a big club expected to win the Champions League from his one campaign with Juventus last season.
Juve lost in the quarter-finals to Ajax but he says it is not essential for City to win the Champions League.
“It’s not compulsory to win the Champions League,” he said.
“Nobody can have absolute certainty. Both Juventus and Manchester City have a lot of quality players and both want to win, but nobody can guarantee a win.”
DLFAwinning both games against Everton, including a 5-1 hammering at Goodison Park.
Man City have won their opening two Champions League group stage matches this season; on the previous 27 occasions English sides have done so, they have all gone on to progress to the next round.