5 Things Manchester City's Fernandinho Must Do to Take His Game Forward

Signed in the summer of 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30 million, Fernandinho proved to be the key signing in Manuel Pellegrini's first season in charge.

He brought a new dynamism to midfield, with his energy and desire to make tackles one of the key reasons Yaya Toure—who scored 20 league goals—was allowed so much freedom to impact the final third.

The Brazilian was a revelation. Whereas Nigel de Jong was solid defensively but limited technically and Gareth Barry lost some energy as the years passed, Fernandinho gave City new impetus in the centre of the pitch. He was expensive, but he was well worth it, with his range of passing and technical quality ushering in a new style of play at the Etihad.

He was a key figure in the club's Premier League and League Cup wins, and he left to play in the World Cup in his home nation full of confidence and optimism. However, a crushing 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany appeared to affect him badly, and his form this season has taken a slight dip.

He still brings infectious enthusiasm and energy, but there have been some lapses in concentration and insipid displays, completely unlike what he produced last season, which was consistent brilliance. He isn't alone, of course, with many of City's squad playing below par this term, but they need their Brazilian dynamo back to his best as soon as possible.

Here we look at five areas he can improve to get himself right back to the top of his game and push on and become even better than he has been at any stage of his career to date.

1. Return to His Expansive Passing Game

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Fernandinho showed last season he has a wonderful range of passing—far more expansive than the much-loved De Jong, who is still held up by many who watch City as an example of how to play defensive midfield.

However, this season, he has been somewhat conservative in that area, restricted by a seeming lack of confidence. He must begin to show again that he can play long and short balls with consistency and quality.

2. Find Himself Playing More Regularly

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The big difference for Fernandinho this season compared to last is the regularity with which he's playing. A guaranteed starter when fit last term, his place has been far less certain since the arrival of Fernando in the summer, and that appears to have affected him.

He's a player who builds momentum in his game by playing regularly, and the stop-start nature of this season appears to have stifled him a little.

But in a squad game and with City challenging in multiple competitions, he must be prepared and play his best football, regardless of whether he starts every week.

3. Put the World Cup Behind Him

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The defeat to Germany in this summer's World Cup appears to have affected him. In fact, it wasn't a great tournament for the City man in general. He looked tired after a draining season, during which he was relied upon heavily at club level.

It was the ultimate platform for him to perform and he disappointed. Playing in the biggest football tournament on earth in your home country is what dreams are made of, yet he rarely produced his best football.

He needs to forget the World Cup and show everyone just how good he is in a blue shirt.

4. Get into the Box More

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Fernandinho proved on a number occasions last season that he is capable of offering City quality in the final third. Whether it's scoring goals or providing assists, he has it in his locker to produce moments of class in dangerous areas.

A desire to do that more regularly would push his game on even further, and it is likely to come with confidence.

5. Cut out the Cynical Fouls

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Sometimes—and this isn't a major flaw in his game—Fernandinho is guilty of finding himself on the wrong side of players and having to make cynical fouls to stop any danger.

Again, it's something that arguably stems back to the 7-1 defeat he suffered with Brazil at the hands of Germany, during which almost every Germany attack led to a goal.

Fernandinho knows the game too well to be caught on the wrong side of players. It's an area in which he can most certainly improve.