Fernandinho missing everything about Manchester City during ‘tough’ lockdown

Brazilian has successfully transitioned from midfielder to centre-back during the season

Manchester City veteran Fernandinho has revealed that being away from his team-mates and the club staff is making matters “tough” during the coronavirus lockdown.

As with most clubs around the globe, City ended group training at the start of the pandemic in England, at which time Fernandinho departed for Brazil with his family.

Though the squad has been keeping in touch with video calls and the like, the absence of the day-to-day training routine has hit hard for the 34-year-old.

“I miss arriving at the club in the morning, having a chat with everyone in the kitchen,” he told the club website.

“This is a tough time for everybody, and I am feeling it right now because I am really missing everyone.”

Fernandinho revealed the absence of those familiar day-to-day encounters are difficult to take—mirroring what many other workers around the country may be experiencing after several weeks without many businesses being open as usual.

“[I really miss] the training sessions, the relationships with team-mates and staff, the time before training you are talking with the physios, sometimes the kitchen after breakfast and even on the pitch before training starts. Everything!

“Sometimes we have a video call conference with them and a training session as well. That is the way we are trying to keep fit, but it isn’t the same of course.”

Italian football moved one step closer to a return to action over the weekend, with the news that clubs will soon be able to begin training in groups again, while maintaining social distancing rules.

In the Premier League, hopes currently lay on a return to action in June, but the government have not yet begun to relax rules on lockdown.