Manchester City Need to Seek an Upgrade on Fernando This Summer

The Manchester City squad has been improved significantly this summer, but it remains somewhat imbalanced. In the attacking midfield positions, those who play in support of Sergio Aguero, the team’s out-and-out goal-getter, the competition for places is fierce.

David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane and Jesus Navas are all fighting for places in the same area of the pitch, and in January, Gabriel Jesus will be added to the mix, a talented 19-year-old who has just broken into the Brazil national side and looks capable of greatness.

That depth of quality means the performance of each player is increased. Every footballer needs competition, to be driven on by their team-mates. City will certainly benefit from the healthy competition in that area of the pitch.

However, other areas are far more stretched. Fernandinho is operating in the defensive midfield role, or the No. 6 position as Johan Cruyff termed it, and has been in fine form, but he faces little competition. Gundogan can and will play there at times, but in terms of out-and-out defensive qualities, Fernandinho remains head and shoulders above anyone capable of playing just in front of the back four.

Fernando, 29, is perhaps his closest challenger, but he remains something of a conundrum. He found some consistency last season after a difficult debut year— and has proven to be very useful from the bench this term, helping City protect leads and see games out.

He is limited, though, and last week at Tottenham, those limitations were in full view. Making his first Premier League start of the season, he was too easily overwhelmed by a Tottenham side who started quickly and aggressively. He was caught in possession and his passing lacked accuracy. The speed of thought and fleetness of foot needed in such a high-intensity Premier League match simply wasn’t there.

It would be unfair to blame one person for a first-half performance that proved totally inadequate, but it’s fair to say Fernando looked nowhere near the level City require if they are to win games of that magnitude and win the title.

All of which suggests he needs to be used in the right moments and against the right sides. At Old Trafford earlier in …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com