Pep Guardiola speaks upon Fernandinho's new role at Manchester City

Fernandinho is likely to stay at the centre-back for at least as long as Aymeric Laporte is injured. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was forced to use the midfielder when Laporte picked up a serious injury during Brighton clash in August, as well as the defender John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have struggled with form and fitness. During the Premier League fixture against Chelsea Guardiola decided to line up with Fernandinho in the defence and has no plans to bring him back to the midfield. He said: “If Rodri and Gundo are fit, I don’t think so. I think he is going back there in that position. I like Fernandinho in that position, with the problems that we have I like it. I know he can play there, but we have Gundo and I trust a lot with him.” Fernandinho managed to keep one of the leading Premier League scorers, Tammy Abraham, though being at a physical disadvantage. The City boss outlined what he exactly likes about the player in the centre-back role: He said: “Fernandinho was good because we won. If we lose, he plays ****. I know that. In Anfield, he was our best central defender. He was a ‘disaster’. I know how it works in this job. He was incredible in Anfield, he was incredible today. He can play there. He is so fast. In our build up his quality is perfect. He has the quality to make the players in that position in front. For the teams to be aggressive in midfield. But to be quick with the ball and to find new solutions in small spaces Gundogan really has another quality. That’s why sometimes we look for other situations.”

Source: MEN

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