Guardiola explains Joao Cancelo’s role in the team
Joao’s role explained
Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 3-1 winners at Goodison Park after an initial goal from Phil Foden was cancelled out by fortunate touch from Richarlison. However two brilliant strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva secure all three points for Manchester City.
One of the interesting selections was again seeing Joao Cancelo play in a left-back position which looked to be more inverted and with the Portuguese international playing closer to a left-side centre midfield role and specifically a full back position.
Pep Guardiola was asked after the game about the role Cancelo has been asked to play and explained it depended on a number of factors.
“More people to pass the ball. That’s all,” he said to Amazon Prime after the win. “Sometimes it is in another position, sometimes our full-backs attack wider so it depends on the opponent.”
When pressed on Cancelo being a player of great skill which is needed for the role he agreed.
“Yes of course. Not all footballers can play inside. Alex [Zinchenko] can do it, Fabian Delph has done it in previous seasons. Joao can do it. It depends on the skills.”
“This team (Everton) scored three goals at Old Trafford, five goals against Tottenham”
“We conceded few… this is the best!”
Pep Guardiola lauds @ManCity‘s defensive efforts at Goodison Park 👏 #EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/3Q5ejTupD8
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 17, 2021
Mahrez explains team chemistry
What was very noticeable about the performance of Manchester City was how in tune all of the players were during the match. Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva both combined with each other to create their chances and were finished clinically by the pair.
After the match, Riyad Mahrez spoke to the media and explained that he and his side know where each other are and there is no need for communication verbally because the understanding is already there from a mental aspect.
“We don’t even need to scream or speak to each other – we know where we are,” he said.
1️⃣7️⃣ straight wins in all competitions! 👏@ManCity are brimming with confidence according to @Mahrez22 😄#PLonPrime #EVEMCI pic.twitter.com/3AG4LD57hQ
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) February 17, 2021
Manchester city of now opened up a 10-point gap at the top of the Premier League table as they travel to face Arsenal at the Emirates to extend their winning run to and to further their record to 18 games.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 23 | 32 | 53 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 24 | 19 | 46 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 24 | 16 | 46 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 24 | 16 | 42 |
| 5 | West Ham United FC | 24 | 9 | 42 |
| 6 | Liverpool FC | 24 | 13 | 40 |
| 7 | Everton FC | 22 | 4 | 37 |
| 8 | Aston Villa FC | 22 | 12 | 36 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 23 | 11 | 36 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 24 | 6 | 34 |
| 11 | Leeds United | 23 | -2 | 32 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 24 | -7 | 30 |
| 13 | Southampton FC | 23 | -9 | 29 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace FC | 24 | -15 | 29 |
| 15 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 24 | -5 | 26 |
| 16 | Burnley FC | 23 | -12 | 26 |
| 17 | Newcastle United FC | 24 | -15 | 25 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 23 | -12 | 18 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 24 | -36 | 13 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 24 | -25 | 11 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 17 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 14 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 12 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 11 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 8 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 8 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 8 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 8 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 8 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 8 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 8 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 7 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 7 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 6 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 6 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Dallas, Stuart | Leeds United | 0 | 5 |
| Klich, Mateusz | Leeds United | 0 | 5 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 5 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 5 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 11 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 9 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 6 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 6 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 6 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 5 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 5 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 4 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 4 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 4 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 4 |
