"We Have To be careful" Fernandihno
Monday, 25th Aug 2014 10:20

City's Brazil international Fernandinho insisted City will not take their foot off the pedal as they did the last time they tried to defend their title. Over the coming weeks City will have to be prepared as they face Arsenal and Chelsea in two of their next three fixtures.

Fernandinho told the Daily Star ahead of a Monday Night Football showdown with Liverpool: “Some people say a lot about this, that when teams win the title it is normal to relax a bit the following season.

“But our first game of the season against Newcastle showed that will not happen again.

“We will try to maintain the same performance level as last season. It is important we don’t relax.

“I think five or six teams can fight for the title again. The fight for the title in the last month of the Premier League was amazing, especially for us because we won our last five games to win the title.

“It was good experience for me in my first season in the Premier League to fight to the very end with a big team like Liverpool and I hope we can do the same again this season.”

Fernandihno is also aware of getting off to a fast start in their title defence;“I think it is important to win these games because in our first five fixtures we face strong teams — we have Arsenal and Chelsea after the international break.

“Next month we start the Champions League as well and we will have games every three or four days. It becomes difficult.

“So it’s important we get as many points as we can early in the season.

“We have to be careful because I’m sure Liverpool will be coming to show against us that they can win the title this season.”

Fernandihno joined City from Shakhtar Donetsk for £34 million in June 2013.

Photo: Action Images

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