Manchester City’s ideal XI following the January window

Fernandinho

Although Fernandinho has had some disciplinary issues this season (he has been sent off three times in his last six appearances), the Brazilian international has been crucial to City’s success in recent years.

The 31-year-old moved to Manchester in 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk, and immediately set about making the midfield spot his own by going on to make 33 Premier League appearances in their title-winning campaign of 2013/14.

He has been a mainstay in the City midfield ever since, as he makes things tick in the middle of the park, be it breaking up play and helping out defensively, or when he goes on driving runs forward and helps launch attacks.

Clearly, the discipline is a concern, yet if he goes back to doing what he does best, and indeed did well at the start of the campaign, he’ll be an invaluable member of Guardiola’s team for a while yet.