Fernandinho puts club before country to lead Manchester City’s quest for Champions League glory

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has put club before country in his quest for Champions League success.

The Brazilian, who has 49 caps for the Selecao, has asked not to be picked so he can focus on leading Pep Guardiola’s men to more silverware.

The 33-year-old has not played for his country since the World Cup during the summer.

And his exit from the international scene is already seen at the Etihad as being very much to City’s benefit.

The veteran anchorman has been excellent in the opening months of the season, and Fernandinho himself believes he is as fit and as fresh as he has ever been as he looks to lead City to the one major trophy that continues to elude them.

In the last international break Fernandinho relaxed in Dubai instead of putting himself through the rigours of more football.

The benefits are clear to see, with Guardiola describing him as ‘extraordinary’ in the wake of last weekend’s 5-0 demolition of Burnley .

Fernandinho said: “It’s good to hear something like this about you – especially when it comes from Pep. I had a rest last week. I’ve been in Dubai for a week. I have enough time to rest.

“I am happy because it’s good to be important especially in a team like this with a lot of good players.

“When you are out of international duty you can forget just a little bit about football, spend more time with your family and clean your mind and your body. I think it helps a lot.”

City face back-to-back clashes with Shakhtar Donetsk looking to take a giant step towards securing a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

Fernandinho is looking forward to taking on his old club in Khakiv tonight and admits City are out for revenge after losing to them in the group stages here last season.

He added: “Most of the people who still work in the club are there. Of course I had very good times there and know a lot of people. I like them so much and have a lot of respect for them. It will be nice to go back there, see them and spend some time with them.

“But we just need to go for it. To improve and get better all the time.

“The next two games against them are going to be decisive to see who goes through to the next stage.

“They are going to be key games for us. Of course they have a good squad, a good team with good players so we have to be careful and try to play the same way we are playing now.

“Of course it’s a different competition, a different way to play from Burnley to Shakhtar. But we have to do what we have to do out on the pitch and try to win the game because it’s going to be very difficult.”

Probable Lineups

SHAKHTAR DONETSK (4-5-1): Pyatov; Butko, Rakitskky, Kryvtsov, Matviienko; Stepanenko, Patrick, Marlos, Maycon, Ismaily; Moraes.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; Fernandinho, D Silva, De Bruyne; Sterling, Aguero, Sane.

Referee: Carlos Del Cerro (Spain).