FERNANDINHO: PLAYERS WERE AGAINST SUPER LEAGUE

MANCHESTER CITY captain Fernandinho claimed common sense prevailed after proposals for a European Super League fell flat. The Brazilian revealed that City’s players had wanted to speak out against the plans and confirmed they had no consultation with the club before Sunday’s shock announcement. City, who are 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League after last night’s win at Aston Villa, became the first English club to withdraw from the ESL on Tuesday. ‘It’s been crazy since losing against Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday,’ he said. ‘The guys were a bit down. Then the Super League news comes out. We were a little bit surprised.’ But he was pleased City pulled out on Tuesday. ‘The good sense, it was the right thing to do,’ he added. ‘We didn’t support the Super League. We’re so happy when everything turned around. All the fans are calm. ‘It’s a tough situation. We wanted to find out, to see the reasons. We wanted to come out and say we were against it but we all agreed we would wait for the club to make a statement. In the end, football wins.’ City apologised to their supporters yesterday and manager Pep Guardiola (below) said: ‘I know my chairman and CEO, I know who they are. I understand the statement but it’s a closed chapter, it’s over.’ Meanwhile, Guardiola admitted that in the context of City’s season, the trip to Villa was a bigger game than Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Tottenham. ‘Losing today would have been dangerous because Manchester United are in top form,’ he said. ‘I had the feeling that if they need to win, they will. Carabao is a final but today was the important game — THE important game. ‘If we play with this commitment... how incredible they were in the warm-up and locker room, they knew we are close. After our two defeats against Leeds and Chelsea, we knew how important this was. It is preparation for the final and Paris Saint-Germain (in the Champions League semi-finals). It is the most difficult season of our lives. We have to finish this chapter.’ Meanwhile, Guardiola said Kevin De Bruyne may return on Sunday after his ankle injury. ‘It was less than we expected,’ he added. ‘If he’s not ready for the final, maybe he will be ready for Paris.’