Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has provided an explanation for the absence of Joao Cancelo from the club’s matchday squad to face Arsenal.
City, of course, were back in action a short time ago.
In the hopes of opening the new season the same way they finished the last, the Sky Blues made the trip to Wembley, eyeing the first piece of silverware of 2023/24 in a Community Shield showdown with Arsenal.
When all was said and done, however, Guardiola and co. were left shellshocked, as Leandro Trossard’s deflected last-gasp equaliser was followed by a dominant Arsenal triumph in the ensuing penalty shootout.
WHAT A TURNAROUND 🤯@Arsenal are your #CommunityShield champions after a penalty-shootout 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bFhx6ECN9S
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 6, 2023
One high-profile member of Man City’s squad, as alluded to above, though, who played no part in the club’s eventual defeat comes in the form of Joao Cancelo.
Full-back Cancelo is fresh off a loan stint away from Manchester, with his absence on Sunday having sparked swift speculation that a move to Spain with Barcelona was inching closer.
City’s boss, though, assured that Cancelo has simply travelled to Portugal, to tend to a family matter.
Pep Guardiola on absence of João Cancelo: “He has to go home to Portugal to sort something with his family.” #MCFC
— Ryan Taylor (@RyanTaylorSport) August 6, 2023
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