Joao Cancelo is preparing to take on Newcastle United again at St James’ Park this weekend, a return to the scene of perhaps his best goal for Manchester City. “I remember that goal well – and we won 4-0,” he tells Sky Sports.
“It was a decision of the moment. When I dribbled past one player, I saw my lines of pass. I saw my team-mates running offside so I decided to shoot. It went well. It was the right decision for the team, that is the most important thing. But it was all in the moment.”
He already had an assist by that point, bringing the ball down to set up Ruben Dias. “It was a good touch but I think the defender doubted. There was a lack of communication between defender and goalkeeper. That was lucky. But Ruben took advantage of it.”
Cancelo is in the gym at Manchester City’s training ground, going through some of the best bits of last season, perusing his stats and discussing the journey that he has been on since joining this club in the summer of 2019. Always a talent, now he is a treasure.
Pep Guardiola highlights his special ability to make things happen. Phil Foden says he is arguably the best attacking full-back in the world right now. Everyone else just wonders whether the word full-back really does justice to his role at Manchester City.