Fernandinho has warned Manchester City against the attacking dangers of Wayne Rooney, ahead of his side’s clash against Everton this evening.
Rooney has eased into his return to his boyhood club with a stunning goal against Stoke City last weekend, his strike earning the Toffees a 1-0 victory. It was the England international’s first Premier League game since departing Manchester United this summer for a second spell at Goodison Park, and City midfielder Fernandinho has issued a warning to his club about Rooney’s goalscoring form.
“He’s a great player, he showed that during the preseason and the first game as well,” the Brazil international told reporters.
Rooney – United’s all-time goalscorer – has netted 11 times against Manchester City in his 13 years at the club, and Fernandinho believes that he will no doubt be fired up and eager to get on the scoresheet with his former club’s crosstown rivals.
He added: “We will have to be very careful with [Rooney]. He can score in many different ways.
“We will have to be close to him and not give him any chance to think or to create any chance [on] goal.”
Rooney has a strong goalscoring record against City, the most spectacular of his 11 goals being his overhead freekick in a 2011 Manchester derby – the late, decisive goal in a 2-1 victory.
The 32-year-old struggled to secure a regular starting place in his final season at Old Trafford under ex-manager Jose Mourinho, and has also lost his place in the England squad. Fernandinho, however, insists that the striker is far from finished, and that he will be raring to go at the Etihad in tonight’s fixture with a point to prove against his old rivals.
Everton lost striker Romelu Lukaku to United this summer, but new record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson could make his debut against Pep Guardiola’s side following an £45m move from Swansea City.
City are the bookies’ favourites to win the title this season, with Guardiola having already spent around the region of £200m in improving his side already, but Fernandinho believes Everton’s strengthened squad will prove a tough game for the blue half of Manchester.
He added: “It’s always tough to play against a team like Everton, no matter [whether it is] home or away.
“With a lot of changes they made they are getting better, they improved a lot.”
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