Man City Must Employ Toure-Fernando-Fernandinho Midfield vs. Barcelona in UCL

Fernando’s arrival at Manchester City from Porto in the summer was seen by many as a move which offered Manuel Pellegrini options in midfield. There had been suggestions that City were sometimes too easy to play against in Europe, that their midfield of Fernandinho and Yaya Toure, although formidable in the majority of matches, were outnumbered when playing against top Champions League sides who employ a three-man central midfield.

Fernando, an out-and-out defensive midfielder, could slot in just behind Toure and Fernandinho at the expense of one of City’s more attacking players, offering extra protection to City’s back four and bringing more control into midfield.

Against Bayern Munich in the 3-1 defeat at the Etihad last season, City had been badly outplayed and outpassed in the middle, a theme which returned later in the season in the defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool, and the 1-1 with Roma in October reaffirmed the need to throw caution to the wind against technically gifted sides, as Miralem Pjanic, the spare man in the Italians’ midfield, was given room to dictate play and pick passes unchallenged.

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For the attacking intent and brilliance City displayed last season, a certain level of naivety undermined their play at vital times. Games are very often won and lost in midfield, and the times where City have failed to control that battle have led to their most disappointing results in the Pellegrini era.

Which is why Fernando’s arrival made so much sense. Not since Nigel De Jong had City had a midfielder so preoccupied with screening the back four. His first two performances—away at Newcastle and at home to Liverpool—suggested a player very much at the top of his fame and ready for Premier League football.

However, an injury in the game against Stoke saw him miss six matches, and he struggled to recreate his early form for a few weeks. But his recent run has been impressive—bringing steel to a City side who had looked porous prior to the international break.

As yet, Fernando, Fernandinho and Toure have rarely been on the field together at the same time, but the second leg of City’s last-16 tie with Barcelona, in this season’s Champions League, when Toure returns from suspension, could well be the perfect opportunity to play a more defensive system.

The performances of Fernandinho and Fernando in City’s win in Rome—comfortably the club’s finest Champions League display since they entered the competition in 2012—was the platform on which that victory was built. They were superb. Controlled yet aggressive at the right moments, tactically astute and with a good understanding of each other’s game.

The defence were well shielded, and Fernandinho’s ability to burst forward and provide quality at the other end of the field meant City had too much for Roma. Add Toure into the mix, a player with match-winning capabilities, and City look well-equipped to deal with Barcelona’s famed midfield.

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The Fernando-Fernandinho-Toure axis possesses a little bit of everything: defensive solidity, energy, quick passing and movement, strength and, in Toure, the threat of goals. Surely against a side with Barcelona’s ability to dominate possession, it makes sense to play all three.

If City go into this tie too open, they risk being undone by the likes of Xaxi, Andres Iniesta, Neymar and Lionel Messi. It’s an outrageous list of talent that must be shackled.

Last season’s defeat to Barcelona at the same stage came down to City showing the Catalans too much respect in the home leg, followed by the sending off of Martin Demichelis. City know they have the capability to give them a far sterner test and a midfield three would give them a more solid base to work from.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.