MX23RW : Friday, October 25 12:53:51| >> :600:269789:269789:
Oct 22, 2019 at 8pm UK at ​Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 49,308
Man CityManchester City
5-1
AtalantaAtalanta BC
Aguero (34', 38' pen.), Sterling (58', 64', 69')
Foden (83')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Malinovskiy (28' pen.)

Joao Cancelo wary of Atalanta threat in Champions League

Joao Cancelo wary of Atalanta threat in Champions League
© Reuters
The right-back moved from Juventus in the summer to join Pep Guardiola's bid for glory.

Joao Cancelo believes Manchester City are well placed to win the Champions League.

The Portugal right-back swapped Juventus for the Etihad Stadium in the summer in order to be part of Pep Guardiola's glory quest.

He feels the team he has left are still capable of winning the competition, but the opportunity to work under Guardiola was too good to turn down.

Joao Cancelo says he joined Manchester City to learn from Pep Guardiola
Joao Cancelo says he joined Manchester City to learn from Pep Guardiola (Nick Potts/PA)

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Tuesday's Group C clash with Atalanta, the 25-year-old said: "When I came here, I came here also to learn. Pep, I think, is the best manager in today's football.

"I came here to learn from him, and I think that when I play for him I will always learn something and that's exactly what I'm doing.

"City are one of the teams that can win the Champions League – no doubt about it.

"I've been aiming to win this competition since I was a child. Juventus also want to win but I came here because this is my type of football."

Cancelo was happy to bide his time before getting his chance at Manchester City
Cancelo was happy to bide his time before getting his chance at Manchester City (Barrington Coombs/PA)

Cancelo, who has also played for Benfica, Valencia and Inter Milan, joined City in a £60million deal in the summer.

It has taken him time to reach the levels of intensity demanded by Guardiola and to claim a place in the side but he has started City's last three matches.

Cancelo said: "It's true it took me some time to learn but what is important is that the club wins.

"I chose to come here. I was happy to wait for my moment and when I finally had an opportunity to play, I did well and the team won."

City have begun their Champions League campaign with convincing wins over Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb, both of whom have beaten Atalanta.

Yet the unheralded Italian side are currently third in Serie A and finished in that position last season.

From his experience of playing against them in recent years, Cancelo expects it could be a difficult encounter.

He said: "They're a strong team, a physical team. Atalanta press very well.

"They have players that are technically skilled and I believe it will be a difficult match. We will have to play well because they have some quality players.

"It will be a lively, interesting match. I hope we will get the three points because obviously if we get to nine points, we will be in a more secure position in the group."

body check tags ::

Click here for more stories about Joao Cancelo

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
Instagram - Follow Sports Mole
Joao Cancelo pictured in Manchester City gear on August 10, 2019
Read Next:
Cancelo: 'Guardiola the best manager in the world'
>

Premier League
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Scottish Championship
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Russian Premier League
Danish Superliga
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
NIFL Premiership
Welsh Premier League
Premier League 2 - Div 1
Premier League 2 - Div 2
Liga MX
Uruguayan Primera Division
Australian A-League
Chinese Super League
Gallagher Premiership
International Rugby League Friendlies
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool98102171425
2Manchester CityMan City96122992019
3Leicester CityLeicester9522168817
4Chelsea95221914517
5Arsenal94321312115
6Crystal Palace9423810-214
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs93331513212
8Burnley93331211112
9Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd933387112
10Bournemouth93331313012
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham93331113-212
12Aston Villa93241513211
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves92521212011
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9243109110
15Everton9315813-510
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton9234912-39
17Southampton9225916-78
18Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9225514-98
19Norwich CityNorwich92161021-117
20Watford9045521-164

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!