Fernadinho on why City changed system against Spurs

Fernandinho has revealed why Pep Guardiola abandoned his usual formation in the Champions League first-leg defeat at Tottenham.

The Manchester City manager is normally adventurous in all games but has a tendency to add an element of caution in certain big games.

He did it in the 0-0 league draw at Liverpool earlier this season, and it nearly paid off as Riyad Mahrez’s missed penalty cost the Blues what would have been a huge win.

Arguably, Sergio Aguero’s spot-kick failure had a similar effect on this game but Guardiola has come under heavy criticism for his team selection.

He left Kevin De Bruyne on the bench until three minutes from the end of normal time, preferring Ilkay Gundogan to sit deeper alongside Brazilian ace Fernandinho.

Guardiola played Bernardo Silva in that role, to good effect, at Anfield when the Merseysiders’ lethal front three were effectively shackled.

But Bernardo was absent after suffering a minor thigh problem in training the day before the game, and Guardiola opted for Gundogan ahead of the more offensive De Bruyne.

“You see we played a little bit different, especially in a defensive way with two holding midfielders,” said Fernandinho.

“We tried to close the midfield because they try to concentrate their game in the middle. We tried to do that and we did so well but at the end we conceded a goal.

“We are going to see if Pep likes it for the next game otherwise we will change and try and go for the game and win the game.”

Guardiola is certain to revert to attacking type for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next week.

Of all the remaining games in three competitions, the first at Spurs was the only one City can realistically afford to lose if they are to secure a clean sweep of four trophies.


Guardiola and his players have openly spoken about the chase for the Quadruple – or the Quintuple as the manager insists it should be, counting the Community Shield.

But Fernandinho was not really interested in the idle chatter, saying he prefers to leave the speculation to others.

“I personally don’t think about that, just take it game by game because if you start thinking a lot of things about that you are just going to get confused,” he said.

“The most important thing is to just take it game by game, so we have a tough game against Crystal Palace on Sunday and it is going to be massive for us in the title race.

“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but this is a Champions League tie so we have the tie at home now. I think we have all the conditions to play better and win the game and go to the semi-final.

“Of course when you lose any game the feeling is so bad. But you have to be professional and have to be clever and overcome this situation and try to work on that and try to fix the problem and solve for the next game.”

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