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Manchester City vs Tottenham team news: Fernandinho hoping to prove fitness ahead of second leg

The Brazilian missed Sunday's victory at Crystal Palace with a muscular problem but has since been training at "low intensity", according to manager Pep Guardiola

Tuesday 16 April 2019 15:30 BST

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Manchester City keep title bid on track with win over Crystal Palace

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho is hoping to prove his fitness ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham.

The Brazilian missed Sunday's victory at Crystal Palace with a muscular problem but has since been training at "low intensity", according to manager Pep Guardiola.

Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko (hamstring) is unlikely to feature in the game at the Etihad Stadium but forwards Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are fit despite minor concerns.

Meanwhile, Guardiola has said he wants to hear a packed Etihad Stadium in full voice as City bid to turn around their tie against Tottenham.

Guardiola would like fans to replicate the atmosphere from their raucous victory over Premier League title rivals Liverpool in January.

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

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1/22Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Hugo Lloris 7

Redeemed all those recent errors with that penalty save from Sergio Aguero early on, diving to his left, turning the course of the tie. Who knows what would have happened without that? Barely had a save to make after that.

AP

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Kieran Trippier 6

Closer to World Cup Trippier than we have seen for months. Looked secure in a back four, even up against Raheem Sterling, and helped out going forward too.

REUTERS

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Toby Alderweireld 7

Just what Spurs needed at the back, so secure alongside Vertonghen that Spurs could get away with a back four rather than a back five. How Spurs will miss him if he goes this summer.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Jan Vertonghen 7

Another night when his years of experience were crucial for Spurs. Had plenty of defending to do but he always looked comfortable, never letting Sergio Aguero or then Gabriel Jesus out of his sight.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Danny Rose 7

Desperately unfortunate to give away that early penalty but was not punished for it. After that he showed his experience at both ends of the pitch, getting the better of old team-mate Kyle Walker.

(Credit too long, see caption)

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Harry Winks 8

This was his first start in a month but you would not know it. He slotted in perfectly and his industry and intelligence were integral to how Spurs played, always on the front foot, putting the pressure back on City.

AFP/Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Moussa Sissoko 8

This is the Sissoko Spurs spent £30million on. Brought power and presence to midfield as well as discipline, giving Spurs a foothold in the game, stopping City’s attempts to play through the middle. One of his best performances for the club.

PA

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Christian Eriksen 7

He always produces when it matters: found Son’s run from out wide, setting up the goal, one of the most important assists he has ever recorded for Spurs. No one else in this Spurs team would have played that pass.

EPA

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Dele Alli 8

The tempo-setter with his pressing from the front, he threw himself into every physical battle, asking the City defence questions they did not want to have to answer. Faded slightly in the second half but can still be proud of all of his hard work.

AP

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Heung Min Son 8

He scored the first goal at this stadium, but this goal might be even more important than that. Was finally rewarded for all his running when he ran onto an Eriksen pass, never gave it up, then beat Ederson with a low finish.

Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Harry Kane 6

Led from the front, challenging the City defence, never letting them rest, and nearly putting Spurs 1-0 up early on. But he became so involved in the physical battle that when he stretched to tackle Delph, he ended up getting injured himself.

AFP/Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Ederson 5

Started commandingly saving and claiming crosses well, and passing calmly, but looked far less comfortable after a painful hip injury, and he will be disappointed by letting Heung Min Son’s shot through him at the end.

PA

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Kyle Walker 4

Booed on his return to Tottenham and it got to him. Never looked comfortable and he kept making mistakes in possession. Did not threaten going forward either.

Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Nicolas Otamendi 5

Relishes the physical battle, but he plays so much on the edge that he nearly let Spurs through a few times. Must have thought he had emerged unscathed with a clean sheet until Son’s crucial goal right at the end.

AP

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Aymeric Laporte 7

Was needlessly booked in the first half but once he regained his composure he was important to how City wanted to play, moving up the pitch and setting the tempo in possession. Although it did not work out that way at the end.

Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Fabian Delph 5

Brought back into the fold to fill in at left-back. He never looked comfortable in possession, and all of his defensive efforts were wiped out when he let in Heung Min Son to score the winner at the end.

AFP/Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Fernandinho 6

City needed his experience here but at times he looked caught up in the occasion, not least when he elbowed Kane in the back of the head, and was lucky it did not get caught on VAR.

AP

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Ilkay Gundogan 6

Summed up City’s game: rattled by the physical first half, struggling to make an impression, but came into it more after the break as City tried - but ultimately failed - to take back control. At one point he gave away the ball so badly Guardiola collapsed in agony.

REUTERS

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

David Silva 6

He is maybe not the player he was. In the frantic first half he failed to control the game in possession as City would hope, effectively knocked off his stride by Spurs’ intensity. Did grow back into the game after the break, during City’s best spell, although it was all in vain.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Riyad Mahrez 5

Bernardo Silva’s injury meant Mahrez was trusted with his first big game in months. But he did not do enough to convince he should play more often. Never looked in sync with his team-mates and struggled to provide quality when on the ball.

Action Images via Reuters

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Raheem Sterling 6

City’s most dangerous attacking player, running with the ball, committing opponents, but he could never quite get his shots away, and he went home frustrated.

Getty Images

Player ratings: Tottenham vs Manchester City

Sergio Aguero 5

One of the greatest goalscorers in the game but he missed a huge moment here, telegraphing an early penalty, allowing Hugo Lloris to save. Never looked himself after that and was hooked early on for Gabriel Jesus.

Getty Images

"The Liverpool game would be enough for me, a little bit better," said City boss Guardiola. "We need it.

"Do it for the guys - the last 20 months, they are so proud with what they have done but they are human beings. They will have bad moments in the games and at that moment we need our supporters.

"At this stage, without supporters, we cannot go through. I'm expecting.

"I'm really curious to see how our fans are going to react tomorrow, really curious."

Provisional squad: Ederson, Muric, Walker, Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Laporte, Kompany, Mendy, Delph, Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D Silva, B Silva, Foden, Sterling, Sane, Mahrez, Aguero, Jesus.

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