AND Brazil ace wants a record haul of winners’ medals
FERNANDINHO is aiming for a place in history – after revealing how Pep Guardiola has made him a better player at the age of 35.
Manchester City’s captain has the chance to pick up his SIXTH League Cup winner’s medal when he leads Guardiola’s side out to face Tottenham at Wembley.
Sergio Aguero (left) has also featured in all five previous finals for the Blues in the past seven seasons.
But while the Argentinian’s striking powers have declined, the Brazilian master of the midfield dark arts appears to be getting better with age.
Fernandinho said: “When Pep came in as manager I was already 30.
“I’d been a professional footballer for almost 15 years but when Pep came to Manchester City he completely changed my understanding of football.
“Now I understand the game in a different way, in a better way. “He has helped me a lot, from the way I play my game to the way I behave on the pitch – and I am really grateful to him and to the club for giving me the opportunity to work so closely with him.
“I hope we can win as much as possible together.
“To win is good – that’s great. But the most important thing for me and the manager is the way that we win. This is important because it allows us to show that when we play good football, we win.”
Fernandinho is out of contract in the summer but his form makes it unthinkable that he won’t stay for a ninth season.
His influence in the dressing room has made him a candidate to join Guardiola’s backroom staff when he does hang up his boots. When the European Super League was mooted last weekend, it was the Brazilian who rallied City’s players and told the club’s hierarchy that they would not support the proposal.
Fernandinho, Aguero, David Silva and former Liverpool striker
Ian Rush have all lifted the League
Cup a record five times.
But Fernandinho added: “I think this would be one of the proudest moments since I signed for City.
“The chance to win a sixth title in this competition is something special. Personal achievements are always good, of course, but they have never been my main targets.
“For me, the collective effort is always what’s important.
“Whether or not I play in this final, I will prepare myself to be ready to help the team win in any way that I am needed because winning is so important.
“Winning will also give us great confidence going into the final few games of the season.”
Fernandinho is also on the brink of winning his fourth Premier League title and on Wednesday City face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
He added: “It’s a great position to be in. As a team we have fought really hard to be here.
“It doesn’t matter what game we go into, our intention has always been to win every game in every competition, especially the cup competitions.
“Now we just need to keep doing what we have been doing, we need to work hard, take each game at a time and play good football.”