The Brazilian believes six teams are capable of winning the Premier League this season, and insists he and his team-mates are aiming to reach the Champions League final
The Brazil international arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Shakhtar Donetsk in June for a fee of around €35 million, and immediately established himself as Yaya Toure's regular midfield partner.
And while he believes this year's title race could be one of the most open in years, Fernandinho is confident City will be there or thereabouts come May.
"That's because there are so many clubs fighting for the title with real chances - Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, United, City, Chelsea - six teams with real chances.
"Each team started this season on its own way. Our team started really well, then we had some bad results but now we could get everything together again.
"The one that will be more consistent until the end, now we are approaching the winter time, [is likely to prevail]."
City have also started well in the Champions League, with a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich the only blip in their opening three group stage matches, and Fernandinho thinks they can go all the way.
"Our aim is really clear," he added. "Our goal is to be in the final in Lisbon on May 25th. All of us have this aim to be in this final.
"We started the tournament with a new team. A team that was being rebuilt. We had some tough moments but the team is coping well with that.
"Every day, every training session, every game we are becoming a more consistent team. I believe if we pass through the group stage, our team has a big chance to go further in the competition."
Under Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, City have lost three of their opening nine matches and sit seventh in the Premier League table, but Fernandinho insists the new manager will turn things around.
"My opinion about him [Pellegrini] is really positive," Fernandinho told Perform. "The good results are happening.
"He is doing a great job. He is putting the winning mentality in the group because City in the past two, three years could not pass through the group stage at Champions League.
"So he is telling us all the time we have to qualify for the next stage and win the Premier League matches as well in order to be in the top three. So at the end of the season we can have real chances to win the title." ---------------- goal.com
No comments:
Post a Comment