Rio Ferdinand thinks Man City midfielder Fernandinho was their biggest “vulnerability” in their 4-3 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva made sure that the Citizens kept their noses in front of Real in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash.
Vinicius Junior had a quiet opening 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium but came alive after the break with Fernandinho – who normally plays in midfield – slotting in at right-back after replacing John Stones on 36 minutes.
Champions League? You’re having a right f***ing laugh
Vinicius scored a brilliant individual goal for the Spanish giants in between Karim Benzema’s brace and Ferdinand thought the decision to put Fernandinho at right-back cost Man City.
“Yeah, I didn’t have that. I didn’t have that in training!” 🫢
“I grabbed Joleon. I said ‘Oh my god, how dare he!”” 😂@JoleonLescott and @rioferdy5 on THAT Benzema penalty!
The centre-back union can only sit back and admire…#UCL pic.twitter.com/m9BIcVbwno
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 26, 2022
“It was a fantastic game, the game ebbed and flowed in different ways,” Ferdinand told BT Sport. “Momentum changed many times during the game, moments of absolute class from individuals.
“City will be a bit frustrated, you can see that. I think Pep will have a lot to say in that changing room. Real Madrid I think will be buoyed I think by the way they showed the character and courage to come back.
“But I still fancy City to go over there [to Madrid] and finish the job off. I think a big, big change in the way the game went was when Stones coming off. I think Stones’ injury destabilised the City team.
“Unfortunately, Fernandinho at 36 years old having to play right-back against one of the most in-form wingers in the game at the moment, that was a vulnerability then in that Man City team.”
Fellow pundit Steve McManaman…
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