Euro vision focuses Fernandinho

FERNANDINHO says that Manchester City are consumed with the “dream” of finally landing a Champions League title.

After wrapping up top spot in Group C with a game to spare in Porto, the veteran midfielder admitted that the pursuit of a first European Cup was something that he and his team- mates are thinking about 24/ 7.

“I think it’s important to have dreams in life,” said Fernandinho after the goalless draw secured City knockout football for a fifth straight season. “We live every day with dreams and things we want to achieve, we go to bed with those dreams and goals in our head.

“We are still really far away, we haven’t finished the group stage and there is still the knockout rounds so it is important to go day by day.

“But this is a competition we all want to win.” Recent history urges only cautious optimism given Pep Guardiola’s side have fallen at the quarter- final stage in their past three campaigns.

However, Fernandinho believes City are showing more defensive rigour than last season.

“It’s important to show that defensive consistency and the team has shown it’s growing,” he said.

“It’s important to get more confidence little by little. Our goal was to finish top of the group and we did it. There is one game left to play and, after that, we will see what happens. We need to go game by game and face the following game like it is the most important one.”

The visit of Marseille next week could prove an exception, with Guardiola set to rest big names ahead of the Manchester derby.

DREAMER: Man City veteran Fernandinho