Manchester City News: Fernandinho warns City about ex-club Shakhtar Donetsk

FERNANDINHO has warned his Manchester City team-mates of the "dangerous" threat to their Champions League hopes posed by his former club Shakthar Donetsk.

Manchester City star Fernandinho explained how dangerous Shakhtar Donetsk can be GETTY

Manchester City star Fernandinho explained how dangerous Shakhtar Donetsk can be

In-form City will be favourites to beat the Ukraine champions in their second group game at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

But Fernandinho insists they cannot afford any complacency against  a Shakthar team stocked, as usual, with his Brazilian compatriots.

He spent the early part of his career in Europe with Shakthar, before a £30million move to City in 2013, and is looking forward to the reunion.

"I am so glad to play against them," he said. "I had great times over there - with my team-mates and the fans. It will be nice to see them all again.

"We all know they always play attacking football - there's a lot of Brazilian players in their squad. Every year they fight for the title in the Ukraine and in the Champions League they try to play in the same way they play in their domestic league.

"We have to be prepared for that because they are a dangerous team. They're full of good players. They like to play technical football - so it will be a great game on Tuesday."

I am so glad to play against them

Manchester City star Fernandinho

City's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace took their goals tally to 27 in only eight competitive fixtures so far - an average of three and a half a game.

And after recording two 5-0 score lines  and a 6-0 win in their last three Premier League games, Fernandinho says their finishing is far more clinical compared to last season.

The 31-year-old midfielder added: "We've changed since last year. Then we created so many chances but didn't score.

"Now we are creating so many - and we are scoring them.

"I'm  not the specialist to talk about that but I'm just so happy that we are scoring them.

Fernandinho, who is out of contract at the end of the season, confirmed his representatives have opened talks with Manchester City's hierarchy over a new deal, although nothing has been agreed yet.

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