DBasia.news – Manchester City will play a historic match in the Champions League final against Chelsea at the Estadio Do Dragao, Sunday (30/05) at 02.00 WIB. This match was the first time for The Citizens to appear in the Champions League final.
City’s best ever achievement was reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2016 and then losing to Real Madrid. The Champions League title has indeed been City’s ambition since being acquired by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.
Massive investments were made from the era of Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, until now in the hands of Pep Guardiola. The difficulty of City to reach the final can be seen from the end of the wait for senior midfielder Fernandinho.
For eight seasons playing at Man City, the 36 year old midfielder has only reached the final of a European club tournament for the first time. Previously apart from the semifinals with City was reaching the semifinals with Shakhtar Donetsk.
City’s difficulty in realizing their Champions League title ambitions is also influenced by several factors, such as bad luck to DNA in Europe. Regarding the last thing related to the public’s negative stigma about the history of Man City in Europe.
Unlike Man City’s neighbors, Manchester United, which already has a long tradition in Europe, City does not have a strong tradition there and has only been ‘considered’ a big club since Sheikh Mansour took over.
Fernandinho knows the negative stigma attached to his team. However, the Brazilian sees that City is setting high standards in Europe. No doubt Fernandinho appeared enthusiastic at his first final.
“There is still a stigma that the team has never reached a final before, that we are an inexperienced team in this competition, a club I mean, historically – but I think this season our team has managed to achieve high standards,” Fernandinho said as quoted from Goal.
“Undoubtedly this is a special feeling, because for me personally, having played in Europe for some time now, I have had the opportunity to play a lot of Champions League seasons and I can only reach the semi-finals with Manchester City, the quarter-finals with Shakhtar, but I’ve never reached the final, so it’s very satisfying. “
“It’s a very happy moment, a big honor, and there’s no doubt that it keeps you motivated, and like we said, we always have to give 100%, 100% of the time, and I think in a game like this, whatever is less than 200% will not be enough to win it, “he concluded.
Fernandinho has been part of City’s players since 2013. Packing 53 caps and two goals with the Brazilian national team, he was one of the City legends in the Mansour era with five Premier League titles, one Community Shield and six League Cup titles.