Joao Cancelo names Liverpool star as his most challenging Premier League opponent | OneFootball

Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo has named Liverpool star Mohamed Salah as his toughest Premier League opponent.

The Portuguese is still technically a Man City player despite having gone on back-to-back loans to Bayern Munich and Barcelona, the latter being where Cancelo is currently playing.

Cancelo has faced Liverpool eight times in sky blue, winning two, drawing three and losing three of those encounters.

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The 29-year-old often had the task of keeping Liverpool winger Salah quiet, something that evidently proved difficult given the Egyptian's fantastic record against the reigning champions.

When quizzed by A Bola about who his toughest ever Premier League opponent was, there was little surprise in his response.

"In England? Salah or [Christian] Pulisic. I will say Salah," said the former Juventus man, who went on to take aim at Man City boss Pep Guardiola.

JOAO CANCELO'S ATTACK ON PEP GUARDIOLA

The 29-year-old was rather surprisingly frozen out by Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium halfway through last season, with a public fallout between the pair forcing Cancelo to look elsewhere for regular football.

However, the current Barca loanee has accused Guardiola of telling "lies" about him, while suggesting that Man City were "ungrateful" to him in the way they handled his situation.

"Lies were told. I've never been a bad teammate for them, and you can ask either [Nathan] Ake or Rico [Lewis]. I don't have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that's the manager's opinion," said Cancelo.

"I stayed because it's not true. I think Man City were a bit ungrateful to me when they said that, because I was a very important player in the years I was there. I never failed in my commitment to the club, to the fans and I always gave everything.

"I remember a time when I was robbed and attacked and the next day I was playing at the Emirates against Arsenal. These are things you don't forget, I left my wife and daughter alone at home, terrified.

Pep Guardiola file photo File photo dated 05-02-2024 of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who has stressed he is more than satisfied with what he is seeing from his team. Issue date: Monday February 19, 2024. FILE PHOTO EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publica... PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxIRL Copyright: xJohnxWaltonx 75392082

"People will only remember this because Mister Guardiola has much more power than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself."

He added: "I prefer to know that I am telling the truth, I feel fulfilled with what I did. I am a transparent person, I never lie.

"Life goes on and I wish everything goes well, because while I was there I enjoyed my football and the team. They remain the favourite team to win the Champions League."

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