However good Josh Wilson-Esbrand was in pre-season, Joao Cancelo was always going to start for Manchester City against Liverpool in the Community Shield, as the only senior option who can play on the left.
Cancelo was mostly reliable, as was to be expected, although Liverpool didn't take long to target the right-footed left-back, who has a tendency to come inside wherever possible.
At the first opportunity, Mohamed Salah stuck to the touchline and was given acres of room as Cancelo trotted over to where he should have been just in time for Salah to waltz past and fire a shot into the side netting.
READ MORE: Man City player ratings vs Liverpool FC as Joao Cancelo poor
The warning wasn't heeded as Salah fashioned another chance with Cancelo still wandering inside until he eventually got the message and stuck wide as much as possible.
Even then, Cancelo's natural urge is to push forward from full-back, and Bayern Munich looked to exploit the space he left behind in last week's friendly. Liverpool did the same in Leicester.
It wasn't a terrible performance from Cancelo, but it's clear he's at his best when coming inside into midfield, or on the right bombing forward. He can do neither on the left against a good winger.
So while City can get away with Cancelo on the left for the majority of the season, they may struggle in the title-defining games against their top-four rivals, or when the Champions League gets into the knockout stages.
It could be a useful reminder that a new left-back would be extremely useful before the transfer window closes - whether that is wantaway Brighton defender Marc Cucurella or someone else.
Pep Guardiola often looked to Oleksandr Zinchenko as a more defensive left-back against Liverpool and other big teams, with Cancelo's display on Saturday perhaps an explanation as to why.
Guardiola says City will try to sign a new left-back if they can find one before the end of the window, and if not they will persevere with Cancelo, Wilson-Esbrand and Nathan Ake. Salah might have just changed his view of things.
Get your copy of the Women's Euros final official programme here
READ NEXT:
