Pep Guardiola hailed the quality and endurance of Joao Cancelo after a man of the match display by the Portuguese defender in our 2-0 Boxing Day win over Newcastle.

Cancelo has been in superb form this season and was outstanding again at the Etihad both going forward and defensively with goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres securing victory.

 

“He’s a player with incredible quality. His regeneration, physicality is incredible. He could play tomorrow!” Guardiola declared.

 

“In the beginning, when he arrived, it wasn’t easy for all of us - him and me. Now, we understand a lot of things.

 

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“In the final third, he has a special quality. He has courage. Sometimes I ask him to play in different positions than what he is comfortable with

 

“In the second half, especially next to his friend Bernardo, was very good.”

 

Play the video to watch Pep’s press conference in full...