• Premier League

Fernandinho: Different City back in title-winning form

Fernandinho was back to his influential best as Manchester City beat Southampton at St Mary's © Getty Images

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Fernandinho believes Manchester City have weathered their difficult start to the season and are starting to play to their potential.

The reigning Premier League champions have won their last three games, including a 3-2 defeat of Bayern Munich and Sunday's 3-0 demolition of a Southampton side who started the game in second place in the league.

And Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho believes City will maintain their rediscovered form for the rest of the campaign.

"This is a new time for us, and from now until the end of the season I think you will see a different Manchester City," Fernandinho told the Manchester Evening News.

"We didn't start very well this season but now, at the end of November, we are playing much better. Now we need to keep at this quality for the whole year."

City embarked on a run of 18 wins and two draws in 20 games after the November international break last season and their recent run has brought hopes they can repeat it.

Fernandinho has been one of the City players who struggled to replicate his title-winning form in recent months but he was an influential figure in the victory at St Mary's.

But the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder felt the key victory came against Bayern, when he was suspended, because it gave them more belief.

"After that Bayern game, it was very different for us," he added. "We won it after losing 2-1 at half-time, and when you beat good teams like Bayern Munich you take more confidence to play better.

"This win was the proof - we showed it out on the pitch by winning another important game at Southampton.

"This win was also a very important victory because this week has been quite tough for us, and this title fight is massive. When you win against a team that is above you, it is much better.

"We go into the next game at Sunderland [on Wednesday] with more confidence, and we are looking to win again."

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