Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has spoken glowingly about Fernandinho before the Champions League final against Chelsea on Saturday.
The Brazil international has been with the Cityzens for the past eight years, and he could make his 350th appearance against the Blues this weekend.
Ahead of the much-awaited final, Gundogan was full of praise for the 36-year-old and talked about the qualities of the club captain.
He told Mancity.com: “I really cannot express how important Fernandinho is to us as a group.”
“He is immense. Obviously, he didn’t get as much game time as others in the squad this season but he knows his role, his responsibility, and what he has to say at the right times, as well.
“This is what a leader is. If you wish to have the right characters in the squad, you wish to have a lot of players like Fernandinho. He has the right mindset. He is so important; I can’t describe it.”
Sportslens view:
Fernandinho rarely started league games for the Cityzens during the first half of the campaign, but he became a regular from February.
He has regularly been rotated with Rodrigo in recent months and was preferred ahead of the Spaniard for the recent European tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Guardiola has full trust in the midfielder’s ability despite his age, and he looks likely to occupy the defensive midfield role in the Champions League final.
Fernandinho’s current deal with the club expires at the end of June, but there wasn’t any farewell for him after the title celebrations on Sunday.
He has emerged as a vital figure on and off the field for the club, and it is reported that he has already agreed a one-year contract extension.
The Cityzens are aiming to win the Champions League for the first time in their history and will go into the final as favourites to lift the trophy.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have beaten them twice over the past six weeks, but a full-strength City team can be fancied to outwit their league rivals.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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