Fernandinho thinks rest may play a part

FERNANDINHO feels that City may have a big advantage over their Premier League title rivals as the fixtures pile up.

The Blues face a testing schedule of two games a week until mid-January at least, and if they progress in the Carabao Cup and Champions League it will get even busier. But the fact that City have four key players who are not involved with their international teams was again a key factor as they smashed West Ham 4-0.

The midfield ace is one of them, having been dropped by Brazil, while David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte are the other City regulars who have been getting refreshing breaks as others jet off to play for their countries. Fernandinho thinks that Silva’s decision to retire after winning an impressive 125 caps has benefited him hugely – to the point that he is just as good, and maybe even better, than when he won the European Championships with Spain ten years ago.

Fernandinho said that only the unfolding of the season will tell if the unscheduled rests is an advantage.

“Maybe. We will see in the future,” he said. “In a month we can see the difference between us and those that had a break. We will see. But for now we start to know it is a tough period Christmas and December.”

Asked about Silva, Fernandinho said: “Maybe ten years ago when he won the Euros with Spain he was at his best as well. The best level of his career? Maybe.”