Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's perfect Premier League start is down to unsung hero Fernandinho

Forget Sergio Aguero or David Silva, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the club's 100 per cent start to the Premier League season is down to unsung Brazilian hero Fernandinho.

Guardiola has managed iconic midfield players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta in the past so his effusive praise for 31-year-old Fernandinho is noteworthy.

'What has happened until now would have been impossible without him. If a team has three Fernandinhos, they would be champions,' said Guardiola, who has won all six Premier League games before Sunday's visit to title rivals Spurs.

'We have one but he is fast, he is intelligent, he is strong in the air, he can play several positions.

'When he sees the space he will run there immediately. When you need to make a correction, a challenge, he is there.'

Others have bigger reputations than Fernandinho who joined City from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and has been an ever-present in the Premier League and Champions League.





But he is fast becoming this season's N'Golo Kante, the running machine who helped Leicester City win the Premier League title.

Fernandinho is entering the final year of his contract but Guardiola is clear he will recommend the club give him a new deal.

'I am a trainer, not a manager who controls everything. I give my opinion and after the club decide,' he said.





'If the club decide my opinion is good, hopefully he will stay because I've just said what I think of him!'

Guardiola first came up against Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino in the Barcelona-Espanyol derbies in Spain but denies the Tottenham boss has tried to clone him.

'It is a big mistake for managers who want to copy a guy who wins. I say to coaches, "Be yourself". If you like someone that is OK, but you have to feel it as well.

'It is not like a computer where you can copy and paste ideas. You have to think for yourself.'