Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has praised the team's assistant coach Mikel Arteta, claiming that the Spaniard has helped him improve this season.

The Brazilian said that manager Pep Guardiola's backroom team have played a major role in City's success this season, and he singled out the contributions of the former Arsenal and Everton star.

"One of the positive things about Pep is that he is so close with his staff – they support him in every situation, and we as players have huge contact with them," the Manchester Evening News quotes him as saying.

"For me, especially Mikel Arteta, because he played in the same position as I play. So sometimes I have private chats with him to correct some positions, or something that is wrong.

"All the people are behind Pep and it is fantastic. That is why we are a very good team - it's not just the players and the manager, but also the staff. Mikel has helped to improve me a lot this season, with his advice."

Arteta has been tipped as a potential candidate to succeed outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.