With Manchester City desperate to make amends for the failure of their last Wembley visit, Fernandinho says his side now thrives on the burden of expectation.
The spotlight will again be on the Etihad outfit today when they face Sunderland in the League Cup final – the first part of their audacious attempt to claim four trophies in a campaign.
Similarly red-hot favourites last May when they met Wigan in the FA Cup final, City were beaten 1-0 by a team that ended up being relegated.
Fernandinho, though, was among the new arrivals in the summer who wanted triumph, not tears under “the quiet man”, boss Manuel Pellegrini, whose only trophy during 10 years in European football was the Intertoto Cup with Villarreal in 2004.
“The big teams have pressure to win the titles so it is important because you prepare more, you have more concentration,” he said, echoing the manager’s call for a winning mentality. “The result can be better than if you relax.
“The manager is calm, he is quiet. He is a very good person. He knows the way to do everything in the week, the training, the game as well.
“I think he analyses the team very well. He has a good feeling about the players and he knows the way we need to play and the way we need to defend as well. We have a good relationship so personally I want to win this trophy for him as well.”
Fernandinho, who will rival Javi Garcia for the central midfield spot alongside Yaya Toure, overcame a tough start following a £30 million (Dh184m) move from Shakhtar Donetsk to prove his worth.
His contribution has proved valuable to a side that has scored 118 goals this season and he hailed the influence of Toure.
“I learn a lot of things from him and I am still learning from him because he is an amazing player, an experienced player,” added the Brazilian. “If we play well, the most important thing is the team and if we win trophies as well.
“For me it is about the trophies, not the goals. The goals are important but it will be very important to win the cup this weekend.”
Full-back Pablo Zabaleta was sent off in that loss to Wigan, but will bid to forget that torment by helping City – still in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League – gain a place in the record books.
“I am looking forward, not back to what happened last season,” he said. “No club has won three competitions inside of England and we have chances to do that – so we will try.
“If we win this trophy the confidence will be even higher for the rest of the season. Everything will be decided in the next two-anda- half months and we have to be focused on what we are doing. If we win on Sunday it will push us to be well prepared for what’s to come.
“We need to learn about last season’s FA Cup final. Probably we had more quality than Wigan but it doesn’t guarantee you win it. Motivation will be huge for Sunderland too.”
The key battles
Vincent Kompany v Jozy Altidore
A potential heavyweight clash could be pivotal to Sunderland’s hopes. Altidore will need to do well with his back to goal if the Black Cats are to get the best out of Johnson and Borini either side of him. Kompany is quick and strong and will be up for the physical battle.
Gael Clichy v Adam Johnson
Johnson has been in great form for the Black Cats this year and he’ll feel as though he’s got a point to prove against his old club. Prefers to operate from the right cutting in on his left foot and Clichy will have his work cut out containing him if he performs to the best of his ability.
Alvaro Negredo v John O'Shea
Negredo has scored goals for fun in the League Cup and an ageing O’Shea will need all of his experience to keep ‘the Beast’ quiet. An all-round centre forward, Negredo, and the supporting Sergio Aguero, will look to expose the old legs of the Irishman and centre-back partner Wes Brown.
Match facts
>> City are in the final of the competition for only the fourth time in their history; they won two of the previous three visits (1970 & 1976), while losing in 1974. All three matches ended 2-1.
>> Sunderland, who can book a place in Europe if they win the trophy, have made only one previous final appearance, in 1985 – and they lost to 1-0 to Norwich City.
>> The only previous meeting between these teams in the League Cup was in 1980. After a 1-1 draw at Maine Road, Sunderland won the Roker Park replay 1-0.
>> Since 2007 every League Cup winning manager, apart from Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, has lost his job within a year of lifting the trophy.
>> Sunderland have only lost one of their last five matches against today’s opposition, winning three and drawing once.
>> Manchester City have scored 19 goals so far this season in the League Cup, and have conceded just once. The last team to make the final after conceding just once were Chelsea in 2006/07.
>> Sunderland have been shown 19 yellow cards in the League Cup so far this season, a massive 11 more than any other team.
