Manchester City star Fernandinho has confirmed he “agreed to help” Pep Guardiola deal with the injury to Aymeric Laporte by filling in at centre-back. The Brazilian has been tasked with covering the injured Frenchman of late as the club are struggling to cope with a shortage of recognised central defenders.
Vincent Kompany left the club during the summer and that left just Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte as the clubs only recognised centre-backs and the decision or failure to bring in a replacement appears to have come back to haunt them.
Will Pep Guardiola be looking to recruit a central defender in January?
Yes
No
Speaking to the club’s official website Fernandinho said: “Pep asked me if I would help him and I agreed to it. I said it wouldn’t be a problem because I’ve always been able to play in multiple positions throughout my career.”
“After Pep Guardiola’s arrival, my position varied more often; I played as a right-back, right-midfielder and a midfielder on the left too. As a holding midfielder, a left-back and a centre-back on both sides.
“So the only positions I haven’t played in under Pep are the three attacking ones and as a keeper.”
TIF Tactics – Are the City midfield feeling the effects of Fernandinho’s absence?
The 34-year-old’s versatility has proven a godsend for Guardiola and his coaching staff. A model professional with a wealth of experience and a huge asset to the squad but is Fernandinho’s absence from the middle of the park having a negative effect further forward?
There are very few players who protect a backline more effectively than Fernandinho. His reading of the game is impeccable and his willingness to engage with opponents physically makes him an attackers nightmare. Despite the manager’s public stance, you could be forgiven for thinking work is ongoing behind the scenes in order to identify a temporary fix in January.