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Premier League | Gameweek 3
Aug 25, 2019 at 2pm UK
 
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Pep Guardiola: 'Joao Cancelo is ready to play'

Pep Guardiola: 'Joao Cancelo is ready to play'
© Reuters
The full-back was a summer signing from Juventus.

Pep Guardiola is confident Joao Cancelo is ready to play a part as the Portugal full-back awaits his Manchester City debut.

The 25-year-old was City's final signing of the transfer window in a deal which saw Danilo head in the other direction to Juventus, but he is yet to get off the bench in City's first two Premier League games of the campaign.

Guardiola offered no hints of whether he would stick with Kyle Walker or turn to Cancelo for Sunday's trip to Bournemouth, but the City boss is certain Cancelo can make an impact when his chance comes.

"He can play, he's ready," Guardiola said. "I think his understanding in training is good and we talk a lot with him. In every training session and every meeting he sees what we want.

Pep Guardiola has been impressed by what he has seen from Joao Cancelo
Pep Guardiola has been impressed by what he has seen from Joao Cancelo (Martin Rickett/PA).

"At the moment there is one game a week and people can have time to recover, but he can play on Sunday.

"Then comes the international break and then the Champions League and the Carabao Cup and everybody will be involved.

"But the first feeling we have is really good. He pays attention, he's an incredible professional with a lot of quality on the ball."

Like Danilo, Cancelo offers cover on both sides of the defence, but Guardiola said he would not immediately be needed with Oleksandr Zinchenko fit after suffering from cramp and Benjamin Mendy now returning to training.

He can play several positions, but normally he will play right-back because Kyle can't play every week

Pep Guardiola on Joao Cancelo

"He can (play there) but we have Oleks, Mendy and Angelino. Usually (Cancelo) is on the right, but he can play on the left. For Juve he played on the left many times. He can play winger too.

"He can play several positions, but normally he will play right-back because Kyle can't play every week."

City head to Bournemouth looking to build on a superb record against Eddie Howe's side. City are unbeaten in 14 meetings with the Cherries and have won their eight Premier League meetings by a combined scored of 25-3.

Gabriel Jesus had a late effort against Tottenham ruled out
Gabriel Jesus had a late effort against Tottenham ruled out (Martin Rickett/PA).

Though there is a lingering frustration from last weekend's 2-2 draw with Tottenham, Guardiola said it was directed not at the VAR decision to rule out Gabriel Jesus' late goal but with his side's failure to convert 30 shots at goal into a dominant victory.

With the Community Shield already in the trophy cabinet and his side positively purring when going forward, Guardiola said there was nothing much keeping him up at night early in the season.

"I'm concerned about Bournemouth but I have no complaints," the Catalan said. "I'd like to have six points, but for the many things we did I'm more than satisfied. I'd like to have no injuries, that's my main concern now."

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Kevin De Bruyne in action during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur on August 17, 2019
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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