CREATING A DIN … City can be even noisier
neighbours again, says new boy Fernandinho
Pellegrini is perfect Fer Man City
By MARTIN BLACKBURN in DURBAN
Published: 1 hr ago
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FERNANDINHO believes Manuel Pellegrini will turn Manchester City back into winners.
City finished a difficult last season empty-handed and it cost Roberto Mancini his job.
New boss Pellegrini has yet to lift a major trophy in Europe — although he did win plenty during his time in South America.
But £30million buy Fernandinho believes the Chilean has the qualities to get the fiercely-ambitious club back on track.
Pellegrini has been putting the squad through gruelling TRIPLE training sessions during their stay in South Africa.
Brazil midfielder Fernandinho, 28, said: “Although Manuel is new, the players are already getting used to his style on and off the pitch — pre-season is a good time for this, to learn his personality.
“At meal times for example he wants everyone together at the same time. This is the way he wants things to be done.
“I am enjoying working with him. It seems like he has that real winning mentality and a strong football philosophy that he will make the players understand.
“I think it will be slightly different because I spent eight years with the same manager. Our relationship was fantastic and I hope I will build the same with Mr Pellegrini.”
Fernandinho caught the eye as he made his City debut in the 2-0 defeat by Supersport United in Pretoria on Sunday.
He admits he is still some way short of match-fitness after only a week back in training but is relishing his new challenge in England.
He added: “It felt like the first day at school. Being able to play in such a big team is very exciting.
“I don’t feel 100 per cent fit yet, but I have two weeks of pre-season now to train then hopefully I will feel top quality.
“It was a great honour to play with such big names and fantastic players so I’ve been looking forward to my debut for the last month.
“Manchester City are now considered one of the best teams in the world and after I signed, people back home in Brazil congratulated me for signing for one of the top teams in the world.”
Pellegrini, who is currently chasing Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo as he bids to boost his striking options, is on record as saying Fernandinho was his top target of the summer.
And the Brazilian admits that has given him a major boost for the season ahead as he looks to force his way into the reckoning for his national team ahead of next summer’s World Cup on home soil.
He said: “That was very important for me and I want to repay the club for what they have done for me by playing well.
“My first aim is to play well for Manchester City and if I do I am sure that will come to the attention of the national manager.”
Fernandinho believes the key to him settling quickly in Manchester after eight years with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine will be learning the language.
He added: “I feel very happy here, but the biggest challenge for me now is the language. Although I understand English I need to learn how to speak it better and when people talk too fast I’m unable to follow the whole conversation.
“This is the thing I need to get used to rather than the football. I speak Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Russian so hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Fellow midfielder Jack Rodwell insists the players have been impressed by Pellegrini during the week they have spent training.
He used 23 different players as they were beaten by Supersport but Rodwell insists the result was not important.
The England ace, 22, said: “Training has been brilliant. The manager has adapted well and we’ve adapted well to him.
“Hopefully we can improve on the results and keep getting fitter.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/5015213/Fernandinho-backs-Manuel-Pellegrini-to-transform-Man-City.html#ixzz2ZAEPEd7I
