Man City fans beg Pep Guardiola to give Joao Cancelo second chance following stunning assist in City’s pre-season opener
- Fans beg Pep Guardiola to give Man City outcast Joao Cancelo a second chance
- Cancelo set-up Erling Haaland with impressive assist in pre-season return
- Guardiola and Cancelo had a falling out as Portuguese was given loan move
Manchester City fans have pleaded with boss Pep Guardiola to give Joao Cancelo another chance following the Portuguese’s pre-season return.
Cancelo made his first appearance in a City shirt since January as the club got their pre-season underway with a 5-3 win over Yokohama F. Marinos.
The defender was brought on at half-time by Guardiola, as he spread the minutes out across his star-studded squad, and reminded fans of what they’d be missing while he’d been away on loan at Bayern Munich.
Sliding the ball across the face of the goal with pinpoint accuracy to set-up Erling Haaland for City’s fifth goal of the game.
The 29-year-old fell out of favour with Guardiola last season, with Cancelo allegedly unhappy with the lack of game time he was getting under the Spanish coach, leading to his shock loan move to the Bundesliga.
Joao Cancelo made his return for Man City in their pre-season clash with Yokohama Marinos
Cancelo quickly reminded fans of his ability by setting up Erling Haaland for City’s fifth goal
Pep Guardiola sent Cancelo on loan to Bayern Munich following a fallout with the player
However, after seeing him back in a blue City shirt fans have taken to social media to demand Cancelo is given a fresh start at the club.
‘Cancelo please just apologise and take Pep out for dinner’. One fan requested as he watched the Portuguese’s performance.
That sentiment was backed by other supporters online who stated: ‘I’ve always said it, Cancelo needs to stay at all costs’. With another writing: ‘Both parties need to sort this situation. He is a great player to have.’
Others preempted any fears about him signing for another Premier League club by declaring: ‘Honestly he needs to play next season. He’s too good for any other club in the PL’.
One more tactical approach came in the theory that Cancelo could be used to City’s benefit in the event of Kevin De Bruyne being unavailable.
Fans took to Twitter to beg Guardiola to give Cancelo a second chance at the club
‘I think he should stay’ The post began.
‘In the sort of games where Kevin (De Bruyne) is absent he could be very instrumental, no one gives crosses and passes like him in the absanse of Kevin.’
Yet, there were still some fans who feel the bridges have already been burnt between manager and player and that despite his pre-season cameo, the riff has not healed.
Tweeting: ‘Bro, he is so good. I just doubt Pep will forgive him now. He’s not that kind of manager, but who know’s.’
There were some opposing views from fans on Pep Gurdiola’s tolerance for forgiveness
But another fan had an opposing view on Guardiola’s tolerance for forgivness, believing that all is now well with him and the defender.
‘Pep is a dad for all. He has forgiven him’ he wrote.
Cancelo moved to Man City from Juventus in 2019 and his performances for the club have seen him twice been named in the Premier League’s team of the season.
However, following his falling out with Guardiola he spent the second half of last season on loan with Bayern Munich, where he made 21 appearances including playing against his parent club as they knocked Munich out of the Champions League.
