ESPN Brasil has a team of reporters in Manchester so they can follow closely the match between Manchester United and Liverpool next Sunday.
But their time in the city has also been used to get other stories, with a couple of Manchester City players being interviewed in the past few days.
It was Fernandinho who first spoke to ESPN Brasil, mostly talking about the change in his position lately. Due to the injuries in the squad, the 34-year-old has been moved to central defence this season, and claims to be enjoying his new role in the team.
“Well, the difference is that playing as a centre-back I have a slightly larger, broader view of the game, of my teammates. And carrying the ball a little further from behind I may have some opportunities that I didn’t have as a midfielder. But it’s certainly a position that I wasn’t so used to playing at.
“And of course the responsibility increases a lot more because of the fact that you have to be aware all the time, the responsibility is big not to make any mistake and not to play any role that could create a problem for the team.
“But I believe that in these games that I played I tried to make the best of it. What I want is to try to improve a little more. Because every day I’m learning more to play in this position, learning more to relate with my defence partner, the goalkeeper, Ederson, the fullbacks too, because you need to have very big, very effective communication with them. And I believe that by doing this, I will improve and can help the team in the best way possible.”
With managers Jorge Jesus and Jorge Sampaoli both succeeding in Brazil this year, the player was also asked if they have any similarities with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Fernandinho first claimed that they are both great managers, since he’s previously faced both of them, and says they do have something in common with the Catalan boss.
“Perhaps what these three coaches have in common is the way they give confidence to the player. They say, ‘You’re going to do it, and no matter what happens, whether it’s going right or wrong, I’ll be on your side’.
“This ends up boosting the player’s confidence and most often makes things work out, because the player will do things without fear of making mistakes.”
“For me, it’s very important in football, and I think every player feels thas having a coach who, if you make a wrong move, will not take you off the pitch, or if you make a mistake in a game, won’t take you off the next match. This relationship between coach and player is very important.”
