Fernandinho says Manchester City’s progress to the Champions League semi-final is at least partly due to experience and knowledge gathered in recent campaigns where they have struggled and, now they have learned to be clever against the continent’s elite, believes Manuel Pellegrini’s team are good enough to win their first European title.
The Brazilian midfielder said City played a “very intelligent game” to defeat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at home on Tuesday night and book their place in Friday morning’s draw alongside Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich.
“Against PSG we showed a different level from the last five years when we played in the Champions League,” Fernandinho said. “I think we played a very intelligent game, a clever game, especially here at the Etihad. If you take the first half, PSG didn’t create any chances to score a goal. They had only one effort on target with Zlatan’s [Ibrahimovic] free-kick.
“And I think if you want to play in the Champions League at that level you need to have more clever, more technical play.”
Having been knocked out of the last 16 by Barcelona in the past two seasons while previously failing to emerge from the group stage, Fernandinho says this breakthrough is a key moment for the club.
“I think it was one of the targets of the club for the last six or seven years and now we are in the semi-final everyone is happy and excited,” he added. “To be honest this is a key moment for everyone at the club. Most of the players have never reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before.”
The midfielder said “of course” City are aiming to win the competition but they are considered outsiders compared to three sides accustomed to reaching the latter stages. However, when asked if both Madrid teams and Bayern might be fearful of facing City, Fernandinho said they will at least have plenty of respect for the remaining English club.
“I’m not sure if scared is the right word – but they will respect us because if you play in the semi-finals it shows that we have some qualities. The semi-finals of the Champions League is only for the big teams.”
The underdog title does not necessarily mean the pressure is off, though. “I think in the semi-finals a lot of things can happen – you can win, you can lose, you can draw – but the most important thing for us now is to concentrate because we want to reach the final.”
