Another Pep talk might be needed for Fernandinho
PEP Guardiola may have to work his magic on Fernandinho once again after Brazil’s World Cup exit last night.
The Blues midfielder scored the own goal which helped Belgium on their way to a stunning 2-1 win over the Samba boys as this World Cup continued to create drama.
Four years ago, he was in the side that was humiliated 7-1 by Germany in one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
It was a game Brazil struggled to forget, and has had far-reaching consequences for the national team. Only four players in this World Cup squad were involved in that humiliation at Belo Horizonte.
That Fernandinho is even one of them is a testament to the player’s remarkable consistency, but also to the faith shown in him by Guardiola.
The Catalan had barely got his feet under the table at the Etihad when his midfield dynamo was dropped from Tite’s first squad for Paulinho, to the surprise of many.
Given the Brazil coach has shown in his treatment of Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino that he will stick to his principles, that could have been the end for another of the infamous 2014 group.
However, Guardiola had already decided the veteran midfielder would be exempt from his major shake-ups in Manchester.
In his first pre-season at the club, the City boss declared Fernandinho capable of playing in 10 positions and has since declared him much better than he himself was as a player – and one of the best three holding midfielders in the world.
The 33-year-old is signed up until 2020 at the Etihad and shows no sign of slowing down. It’s why Jorginho cannot expect to play every game next season despite the money City will spend on him, and why United’s new £52m signing Fred did not start ahead of him last night.
Having worked his way back into Tite’s favour for the final two Brazil matches in this tournament, Fernandinho has already done the hard bit and knows just how good he is.
“I can say that I’ve changed a lot as a player since the last World Cup, both in my club and with the national team,” he said ahead of the tournament. I’ve managed to improve a lot in terms of my football, so I think I’m a very different player to four years ago.”
There will be plenty of soul-searching in Brazil over their failure to go past the quarter-finals stage. And for Fernandinho, it was probably his last World Cup.
But he, and Guardiola, know there is still plenty left for him to achieve with the Blues.