Guardiola: I won't say a bad word about Cancelo

defender

who was not a regular starter after the World Cup joined

on a loan deal until the summer.

In his press conference ahead of the game against Tottenham on Sunday, Guardiola explained Cancelo’s unexpected move to the Bundesliga.

He said:

”First of all, I wish him the very best in his four months [at Bayern Munich]. Next season, I don't know what happens. An incredible figure in the last two league titles we won.

"After the World Cup, we made a pre-season and decided to play, in some patterns different. I like what I watch. I give more time to other players. His personality, mine, he loves to play. He trains the best, the situation he doesn't play much.

"In the last years, he has been one of the players with more minutes at City. He needs to play to be happy, we decide to let him go to Munich.

"If Bayern Munich want Joao [Cancelo], it's because he's an exceptional player. I won't say a bad word, his work ethic, passion, skills. Everyone knows it. It happens one or two days before the window. Always I'm pleased with the squad.”

Guardiola also said he is happy with his options at defense, and revealed that hid did not ask the club to sign a defender after Cancelo left.

"We talk, but took three minutes. I said, 'Do you have something?' Txiki said no. I said, 'Wait'. We could go to the market and pay a huge amount of money.

"I prefer a few months until the end of the season we can do it without. In the summer, we see.

"We can handle the situation in all departments. I trust the players. If I had the feeling, I'd say to my bosses we should do this. With [Manuel] Akanji, I said we should have another central defender.

Nathan [Ake] cannot play all games. Aymeric [Laporte] can play there, Rico [Lewis] can play there, of course Sergio [Gomez].”

Guardiola also confirmed that John Stones will be out of action for about three weeks or a month, due to a hamstring injury.

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