Defensive duo offer very different options
GIVEN his form since, it is almost unthinkable that Joao Cancelo watched the 2021 Champions League final from the City subs bench.
The Portugal star has been Pep Guardiola’s go-to man this season, starting every game apart from the two Carabao Cup ties, slotting in at left back or right back, as needed, and turning out top-class performances just about every time.
But in the midweek win at Aston Villa, when he was switched to the right to cover for the injured Kyle Walker, we saw exactly why he was not an automatic choice last season.
Nothing to do with Cancelo himself, who put in some fine displays as the Blues streaked away with the Premier League title, and reached their first Champions League final.
It was everything to do with the way Aleks Zinchenko played at Villa Park, in his first league appearance of the season.
The Ukraine star gave everyone – not least Guardiola – a reminder of the control, discipline and technical ability he brings to the team.
And he was also defensively sound, an area of his game he has worked on, and which has improved dramatically, since it became clear that being a left back, rather than the attacking midfield role he plays for his country, was his passport to a place in the team. Zinchenko is not as eyecatching as Cancelo in the role, there are no outrageous outsideof-the-boot passes to create big chances, and he does not possess the former Juventus man’s athleticism.
But he is exceptional in the build-up, a player built for Guardiola’s City.
Observers at the Blues training reckon Zinchenko is one of the masters of the rondo, the piggy-in-themiddle passing drill so loved by
Guardiola as a means of sharpening touch and weight of pass.
Guardiola did not need any reminding about what Zinchenko brings to the team.
Rewind to the Champions League semi-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain in April, when the Blues were trailing and in search of a precious away goal.
Cancelo had not played badly at left back, but the manager replaced him with Zinchenko and City went on to win the game 2-1.
Cancelo is capable of wonderful, match-winning moments, but he also comes up with dreadful, disastrous ones, as well.
His red card after just ten minutes at Brighton, in a pointless end-ofseason game, was evidence of that.
That red meant he was suspended for the final league game of the season, against Everton, and possibly
Zinchenko is a player built for Guardiola’s City, exceptional in the build-up
Stuart Brennan
influenced the manager’s decision when he preferred Zinchenko for the final in Porto.
The problem has raised its head again this season. When City dominate, Cancelo has been brilliant, and he is also extremely good in an attacking capacity in more evenlymatched games.
But his propensity for naive defending sometimes lets him down.
Zinchenko offers greater security, and in a horses-for-courses approach, Guardiola would not hesitate to play Zinchenko ahead of Cancelo, if he thought the defensive solidity was more important than spontaneous attacking creativity.
In the summer, some City fans were desperate for a new left back.
Cancelo and Zinchenko have proved that a new left back is the least of Guardiola’s needs.