Playing for Pep is all Brazilian needs

from JEREMY CROSS in Kharkiv

FERNANDINHO has put club before country in a bid to drive Manchester City to Champions League glory.

Fernandinho has asked not to be picked by Brazil so he can focus on helping City win more silverware.

The midfielder has not added to his 49 caps since a disastrous World Cup campaign in Russia. But Brazil’s loss has been Pep Guardiola’s gain, with Fernandinho emerging as one of the most crucial players in the Spaniard’s well-drilled side.

The veteran might be 33, but he reckons he’s feeling fitter and fresher than ever as he looks to help City land the one major trophy that still eludes them.

In the last international break Fernandinho relaxed in Dubai instead of putting himself through the rigours of more football.

The benefits are clear to see, with City boss Guardiola describing him as “extraordinary” in the wake of last weekend’s 5-0 demolition of Burnley.

Fernandinho said: “It’s good to hear something like this about you, especially when it comes from Pep.

Family

“I’ve been in Dubai. I had enough time to rest. I am happy because it’s good to be important.

“When you are out of international duty, you can forget just a little bit about football, spend more time with your family and clean your mind and your body. It helps a lot.”

City face back-to-back clashes with Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk looking to take a giant step towards securing a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

Fernandinho is looking forward to taking on his old club in Kharkiv tonight and admits City are out for revenge after losing to them in the group stages here last season.

He added: “Most of the people who still work in the club are there. I had very good times there and know a lot of people.

“I like them and have a lot of respect for them. It will be nice to go back there and spend some time with them.

“But we just need to go for it, to improve and get better all the time. The next two games against them are going to be decisive to see who goes through to the next stage.

“They are going to be key games for us. They have a good squad, a good team with good players, so we have to be careful and try to play the same way we are playing now.

“It’s a different competition, a different way to play, from Burnley to Shakhtar.

“But we have to do what we have to do out on the pitch and try to win the game because it’s going to be very difficult.”