When João Cancelo was in Benfica’s B team, he had little interest in defending but his coach still made a bet with him that he would become one of the best five right-backs in the world. Hélder Cristóvão knew the heights the teenager from Barreiro, just south of Lisbon, would reach.
Full-backs have had problems at Manchester City and at Liverpool, their opponents on Sunday, this season: Kyle Walker is injured, Andy Robertson has suffered niggles, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has struggled for form and now fitness. Cancelo, however, has offered quality and consistency throughout.
