Fernandinho has accused Diego Costa of trying to provoke the opposition, with the midfielder and the striker having clashed during Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.
Fernandinho elbowed Costa in the head during the first half at the Etihad Stadium. Yet the Brazilian, who scored City’s final goal to seal an impressive personal display, claimed that it was unintentional, and that part of Costa’s style is try to aggravate. “It was an accident and the nature of the game. It happens in football,” said the 30-year-old. “He [Costa] is always trying to offend the opposition, but I keep calm and keep playing. I just didn’t want to fight or have any confrontation and just to play for my team.”
With City visiting Everton on Sunday when Manuel Pellegrini’s team hope to claim a third consecutive victory the midfielder compared Sergio Agüero, who scored a fine opener againstChelsea, to his own compatriots Romário and Ronaldo, both of whom were supreme goalscorers.
“He’s an amazing player, with great technical ability and great finishing. He showed that on the pitch and you are happy to have him on your side,” said Fernandinho. “Last year he was the best striker in the Premier League and top scorer, but he didn’t win the title of player of the year. This year I hope he can score a lot of goals again and he can win that title.
“Yes, he is like Romário when he plays. His style is similar as Romário and if he can score a lot of goals like Romário did then I will be very happy. I watched Romário when I was young and he was one of my idols. Romário was amazing, Sergio is amazing and Ronaldo too. In Brazil, we had a lot of good players, strikers like that. Sergio has a great chance to be the best striker in the world, to be like them as one of the best ever, if he keeps working hard as he is now. When Romário or Ronaldo missed a chance they continued and go for the next one. They continued working and trying and I think this is the difference of the great players. That’s what Sergio is like.
“It’s important to keep Sergio fit. When he is fit, he can cause a lot of problems for the opponents and help us with goals and assists because he is a great player.”
Of City’s beginning to the season, he said: “It’s been a good way to start, two wins, six goals and none conceded. We have come to win the title this season. The manager prepared the team very well and we have started the Premier League very well and this is important because we have a long way to go and we are much stronger as a team.
“I’m proud of being part of this team and it’s the way we like to play, with a lot of intensity, control of the ball. We like to have possession and in both games we have played, we did it in the best way. The important thing is to win the title and if we can do it with style and by entertaining, it’s perfect. But if you cannot we have to be more consistent, especially in defending. We have got good players up front who can score a lot of goals, but the most important thing is to be consistent in defence and midfield as well.”
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