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Manchester City Captain Fernandinho Showed Incredible Leadership Qualities By Requesting To Do Post-Match Media

Manchester City Captain Fernandinho Showed Incredible Leadership Qualities By Requesting To Do Post-Match Media

Fernandinho only came on as a 90th minute substitute for Manchester City, but he wanted to speak about the European Super League.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Unless the circumstances are exceptional, you don't normally 90th minute substitutes doing post-match media in football.

But last night, Manchester City skipper Fernandinho put himself forward after the 2-1 win over Aston Villa because he wanted to address the European Super League.

Although the players were not informed, City were one of 12 founding clubs for the controversial breakaway league that was announced on Sunday.

After all the backlash and protests from fans, City announced they had pulled out of the European Super League on Tuesday - becoming the first English club to do so and having a domino-like effect on the rest of the pack.

Reports say Fernandinho was the most vocal critic of the ESL and he took it upon himself to discuss the issue after City got back to winning ways on Wednesday night.

Manager Pep Guardiola, who had been extremely honest and upfront with his opinion on the matter, gave his captain a big hug after his round of post-match interviews, clearly pleased with the leadership displayed.


"It's been crazy since losing against Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday," Fernandinho told Sky Sports.

"The guys were a bit down. Then the Super League news comes out.

"We were a little bit surprised. The good sense, it was the right thing to do. We didn't support the Super League. We're so happy when everything turned around. All the fans are calm.

"It's a tough situation. We wanted to find out to see the reasons. We wanted to come out and say we were against it but we all agreed we would wait for the club to make a statement. In the end, football wins."

In addition the official statement, City apologised to club fans through an email from chief executive Ferran Soriano.

Deeming the book to be closed, Guardiola commented: "I know my chairman and CEO, I know who they are. I understand the statement but it's a closed chapter, it's over."

Featured Image Credit: PA Images & @spbajko

Topics: Manchester City, Football, Pep Guardiola, Fernandinho