Fernandinho showed Man City what they'll be missing in cameo vs Atletico Madrid

In times of great war, you turn to your most trusted generals and Fernandinho did not falter when Manchester City needed him most against Atletico Madrid.

The tide was turning against City and things were looking increasingly bleak. After 150 minutes of being in near-total control of the Champions League quarter-final tie, Atletico suddenly sprung the final phase of their plan in the last 30 minutes of the second leg. After restricting the Blues to just a slender one-goal advantage up until that point, they then turned up the pressure and went on the hunt for a goal.

A volleyed effort from Antoine Griezmann that whistled wide of the post was the signal flare for the final push. The rabid home crowd somehow found another decibel of volume after the shot that had sent Ederson scrambling; they sensed that a goal was coming. Pep Guardiola, who was crouched to his knees and looked transfixed in horror, seemed to feel it too.

ALSO READ: Man City stole trademark Atletico Madrid tactic to survive Champions League battle

Atletico maintained their pressure, with City being pushed back into their own half in a fashion that is rarely seen. They were clearly uncomfortable with it as the screw was turned tighter. Substitutes Angel Correa and Rodrigo De Paul caused yet more danger, with the latter having two brilliant chances within minutes of coming on. In that 10 minutes of play alone Atletico had more shots on goal than they had in the entirety of the playing time that proceeded it.

City had lost their way, as Guardiola admitted after the match: "We were in big, big trouble." So in City's hour of need, when they were facing their greatest European test, when the prize they want more than any other was hanging in the balance...