City captain Fernandinho has called for his teammates to use both last season’s achievements and disappointments as motivation for the new campaign.

Pep Guardiola’s men enjoyed huge success across 2020-21, with a third Premier League title in four years and a fourth consecutive Carabao Cup the sum of those efforts.

Nonetheless, City were agonisingly close to adding further silverware to our glittering trophy cabinet, losing out in both the FA Cup semi-final and our first ever Champions League final to Chelsea.

For Fernandinho, however, last season’s highs and lows have created the perfect environment and mentality to help City build on those achievements.

“I always believe that football gives you another chance to rise and to go again, even when you lose,” he pointed out ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur.

“Winning is easier because it keeps you very motivated, but when you lose you think that football will give you another chance.

“I think when you have both things, winning and losing, you go on the same road and keep going, don’t stop and don’t look back.

“I think that is the best way that I keep myself motivated.”

The 2020-21 campaign was regularly called ‘a season like no other’, with one of the main components of that description being a severely shortened post-season break leading into the season.

Indeed, this summer’s relaxation period was the first sustained amount of time that our City stars were able to rest up and refocus since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Although he was unable to go abroad due to travel restrictions, Fernandinho insists his ‘staycation’ in Manchester in the build-up to pre-season was a hugely enjoyable experience.

He also revealed the special affection that he and his family hold for both the City supporters and the local area.

He declared: “I enjoyed my summer in Manchester. It wasn’t bad to be honest. The weather was ok, but we enjoyed it.

“Obviously with the kids at school we cannot go anywhere with the restrictions from the government, so I chose to stay here.

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“After eight years I believe I am a Mancunian, or mostly Mancunian!

“Since I have come here, the welcome I received here was really nice. It was a really warm welcome, especially from the City fans and the club as well, people, the staff, everyone.

“Me and my family have settled so well here and year by year, we start to understand a bit more about the culture, the people, the way they like to live here and how respectful they are.

“I have a special feeling about Mancunian people.”