Manchester City do not need Fernandinho as they once did. Time passes, teams evolve.
But away from the public gaze, they have relied upon him like never before. As captain for the first time, this group of players are under his charge and, at 35, he realised this season — potentially a last hurrah at the Etihad — was one in which he could still leave an indelible mark.
Fernandinho is unlikely to start the last-16 first leg on Wednesday night in Budapest, against a Borussia Monchengladbach side City ought to dispatch from the Champions League with little fuss.