What happened between Guardiola and Cancelo?

The tensions between Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and club defender Joao Cancelo have been an ongoing source of speculation since the 27-year-old joined the club in 2019. The pair have had a number of disagreements, most notably over Guardiola's tactics and handling of the Portuguese international.

The first major incident between the two came in October 2019, when Guardiola publicly criticised Cancelo for his positioning and lack of concentration in a 3-2 Champions League win against Atalanta. This was followed by a training ground argument between the two in March 2020. While the details of the disagreement are not known, it was reported that Guardiola had to be restrained by members of the coaching staff.

The most recent incident between Guardiola and Cancelo occurred in December 2020, when the Portuguese defender was sent off in Manchester City's 4-1 win over West Brom. Guardiola was seen berating Cancelo after the red card and the pair exchanged heated words. Despite the tension, Cancelo has continued to be a regular starter for Manchester City and has played a key role in their success this season.