Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has singled out Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes ahead of Sunday’s derby.
Guardiola has said his players must nullify the United captain who can “always create something”.
The Portugal international was an injury doubt for their FA Cup fifth-round trip to Nottingham Forest.
But he ended up playing the full 90 minutes at the City Ground, providing the assist for Casemiro’s winner.
United have recorded only one win in their last six against City, but Guardiola remains wary of Fernandes.
“He is an exceptional player,” Guardiola said.
“Especially the consistency to play in every single game and every single competition.
“I admire him a lot for that. He is a guy who when he has the ball, something is going to happen. In set pieces, in connections with players up front with [Alejandro] Garnacho, with Rashford, all the strikers they have up there.
“What can I say, he is a important player.”