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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Matthew Hobkinson

Joao Cancelo explains 'secret' to Man City's success under Pep Guardiola

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo has revealed the "secret" to his club's success under Pep Guardiola.

City have won four out of the last five Premier League titles, and Cancelo is not surprised at how successful the Blues have been. Guardiola arrived six years ago and has spearheaded the club's recent domestic dominance.

The Champions League is the elusive prize that City cannot seem to get their hands on, falling agonisingly short in 2021 when they lost 1-0 in the final to Chelsea. Many people though see Erling Haaland's arrival as the final piece of the puzzle that will see the club finally achieve European success.

READ MORE: City confirm Premier League squad for 2022/23 season

Haaland has already shown the difference he can make for City in the Champions League this season. Two goals against Sevilla were followed by an acrobatic 84th minute winner against Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Norwegian has demonstrated exactly why the Blues signed him as he adds a level of ruthlessness to City's finishing, killing games off where previously they might not have. The creativity has never been an issue for Guardiola's side, as Cancelo's sumptuous outside of the right foot cross against Dortmund showed - but they haven't always had a Haaland figure to apply the finishing touch.

It is easy to lose focus on the 22-year-old's individual talents, but Cancelo is adamant that it is City's squad depth and quality all over the pitch that have made them so successful.

Talking to club media, he said: "I think that our secret is not only about one position, but about the harmony that we have and how well tuned we are as a team. I think we are a very complete team in every aspect of the game.

"We have players of immense quality in every position of the pitch and I think this is what makes us always reach a very high level. The things we have been doing over the last few years are not for every team.

"Even though we haven't won the Champions League, but we reached a final, a semi-final - and losing the way we lost. Winning four Premier Leagues in five years - I won two but my teammates that are here, and many of them are still here, won four in the last five years, which is very hard.

"We haven't seen a record like this in England for a very long time and this proves the quality of our players and the quality of our squad."

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