Man City’s stars CAN’T sulk if they are left out, says Fernandinho as new club captain believes ‘respect’ for Pep Guardiola’s decisions will give a ‘great chance’ of defending their league title
- Manchester City start their Premier League title defence on Sunday afternoon
- They take on Tottenham but some of their big names will need to be left out
- Club captain Fernandinho does not want to see any of his team-mates sulking
- City have the strongest squad in the country but they cannot play everyone
Manchester City skipper Fernandinho has said they can’t afford any sulking in the camp from players who are left out of Pep Guardiola’s line-up this season.
City have the strongest squad in the country following the £100million arrival of Jack Grealish with negotiations still ongoing for Harry Kane.
It means a lot of bruised egos every time Guardiola picks his team and 36-year-old Fernandinho says keeping the whole group together is vital to continued success.
Manchester City club captain Fernandinho has called on team-mates to ‘respect’ decisions
Pep Guardiola has built the best team in the country but he has tough line-up calls to make
‘Sometimes it is easy, sometimes it is tough. We have some great characters but everyone understands we are here to play for this club so you have to do your job,’ said the Brazilian, who has won 11 major trophies with City and was chosen as captain by his team-mates after the departure of David Silva.
‘With respect, discipline and responsibility, we are all going in the same direction.
‘You have to respect the manager’s decision if you are in the starting 11 and if you are not then you have to still respect it and work harder to get in.
‘I think this is the level and the best way to keep the winning mentality and to challenge each other as well.
The arrival of Jack Grealish for £100m means City are overflowing with attacking options
‘As soon as you go onto the pitch, you have to play for yourself and your team-mates.’
Fernandinho considers himself an adopted Mancunian after eight years with the club and spent his summer in the city rather than return to South American with the Covid restrictions.
A fourth Premier League title in five beckons. ‘I think the biggest challenge can be us,’ he says.
‘If you relax and think the job is done, this is the biggest mistake. If we keep going, the same way we have kept going since last season, I think we have a great chance of becoming champions again.
‘Being champions again would be amazing, like a dream come true. We will try again and we will see at the end of the season.
‘Jack (Grealish) has shown his quality already. We want the best players around us.’
Fernandinho believes if players don’t sulk they will have a great chance at defending their title