Fernandinho’s decision to leave City surprises Guardiola

MADRID-

Pep Guardiola is one of the most meticulous football coaches.

Imagine the shock on the face of the Manchester City manager when he walked into a press conference on Tuesday to find out that one of his senior players had just announced that he wanted to leave.

“Sorry?”Guardiola responded to Fernandinho’s announcement that he would be returning to Brazil at the end the season, when asked about his reaction. “Oh. I didn’t know. You just gave me the news.”

Guardiola was unaware that Fernandinho, 36, had just told reporters that he wouldn’t be staying at the club for a 10th season.

“I want to play,”The ex-Brazil midfielder stated bluntly during the news conference prior to City’s second-leg match against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals.

“I will go back to Brazil, for sure,”He added.

Fernandinho is a key player in City since his move from Shakhtar Donetsk to City in 2013. He has excelled at breaking up opposition attacks and has played defensive midfield.

However, this season, the four-time Premier League champion has been Rodri’s backup midfielder and has been more valuable to City off the field, as a senior voice and coach in the training room and locker room, than he was on it. Fernandinho hasn’t played in a City match for over a month. In fact, he has only one league start this season. This is a marked downgrade from Rodri.

“With age,”Fernandinho stated, “it’s hard for me but I put myself in a position to try to help the team as I have always done.”

His career in Brazil will be completed — he didn’t mention a club — which will bring his career almost full circle since he started in Brazil in 2002 at Atletico paranaense.

“Maybe it’s a family decision, maybe he wants more minutes than he has had,”Guardiola said that Fernandinho’s motives for leaving were obvious to him.

“For his happiness and that he wants to play, it’s completely normal and understandable.”

Guardiola stated that City would attempt to beat Atletico Madrid in tribute to Fernandinho.

“We are going to play tomorrow for him,”He said, “and give him the best final moment.”

Fernandinho did not feature in the first leg of last week’s match. City won 1-0 thanks another big goal by Kevin De Bruyne.

The Brazilian played a part in the match by coming onto the field at end of the game to help Jack Grealish escape Angel Correa from Atletico.

Guardiola and Fernandinho said they expect a hostile atmosphere at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. They also urged City’s players not to get too excited by the possible provocation from Atletico. Grealish, for example, had his hair pulled by right back ┼áime Vrsaljko.

“We have to be ready for everything, for any circumstances,”Fernandinho said. “The main thing is just to focus on ourselves, the way we have to play, the tactics we adopt in this game and how we can hurt them.”

After six weeks of being out with a hamstring injury for Portugal, Ruben Dias was back in the squad. Guardiola stated however that the defender was not ready for Atletico.

Kyle Walker is back after a three-match European ban.