Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City's early-season success would not have been possible without the work of Fernandinho.
The Spaniard, who has kicked off his Etihad Stadium tenure with 10 wins and a draw, is hopeful that the midfield maestro will now be offered a new deal by club chiefs.
Fernandinho is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and is therefore allowed to speak to rival teams in the New Year, which Guardiola admits is something that concerns him at this stage.
"I know how managers work in England they control things, but here I am not a manager, I am a trainer. I give my opinion and after the club decide," he is quoted as saying by The Sun.
"If the club decide my opinion is good, hopefully he will stay because I've said what I think of him! What has happened until now would have been impossible without him.
"If a team has three Fernandinhos, they would be champions. We have one but he is fast, he is intelligent, he is strong in the air, he can play several positions. When he sees the space he will run there immediately. When you need to make a correction, you just need one to challenge, and he is there."
Fernandinho has started eight games for City this season in all competitions, scoring two goals from his defensive midfield position.
Daniel Lewis
