We’re threat to ourselves says skipper
MANCHESTER CITY captain Fernandinho reckons the only team that can stop Pep Guardiola’s men from retaining the title are themselves.
The Brazil midfielder believes he’s now got a Mancunian mentality as he goes into his ninth season at the Etihad.
And at the age of 36, his hunger for trophies remains undiminished after lifting four Premier Leagues, five League Cups and the FA Cup since his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk.
City open their title defence at Tottenham today and Fernandinho said: “We will try to play our type of football game and we will try to perform at the same level again.
“Obviously, we will try to improve on last season.
“For sure, all the opponents have invested, they have bought new players, they changed their sides a little bit and for sure it is going to be a tough task this season.”
But Fernandinho said that with such a packed trophy cabinet the biggest threat to City’s title hopes was complacency.
“From us. I think the biggest challenge can be us,” he said.
“If you relax and you think the job is done, this is the biggest mistake.
“If we keep going, the same way we have kept going since last season, I think we have a great chance of becoming champions again.”
Fernandinho resisted the temptation to holiday abroad after deciding to take up City’s offer of a 12-month contract extension.
And despite his Samba roots, he revealed he now feels like one of the locals.
He said: “I enjoyed my summer in Manchester. It wasn’t bad to be honest. The weather was OK, but we enjoyed it.
“Obviously with the kids at school we cannot go anywhere with the restrictions from the government, so I chose to stay here.
“After eight years I believe I am a Mancunian – or mostly Mancunian!
“Me and my family have settled so well here and year by year, we start to understand a bit more about the culture, the people, the way they like to live here and how respectful they are. I have a special feeling about Mancunian people.”