Enzo Fernández has brought a winning mentality to Manchester City that has quickly impressed his teammates, manager Enzo Maresca has said.
It has been less than two weeks since Fernández joined City in a Premier League record-equaling £125 million ($169m) move from Chelsea, but the impact the Argentinian has had in the dressing room has been immediate.
"You can see how the teammates talk about him in terms of winning mentality," Maresca said. "Players [who have] already won, and know how to win -- it is important they are in our squad.
"He works hard every day, he's polite. He's working good and he's what we need."
Maresca knows Fernández well having been his manager at Chelsea for a season and a half.
The City boss has seen the midfielder's game evolve and now sees him as a much stronger attacking threat.
The Italian said: "He is improving a lot. Probably in the last two years with us he's become a more attacking midfielder. In the past he was a bit more deep.
"He is unbelievable around the box in terms of goals and assists, and in terms of leadership he is growing a lot."
Fernández made his City debut in last weekend's victory over Coventry when he was unexpectedly promoted from the bench to the starting line-up after Nico O'Reilly was injured in the warm-up.
He also featured in the midweek Champions League win at Porto and could retain his place for Sunday's derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
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City lost the corresponding fixture in January last season and will be looking to put that right this weekend.
Although this will be Maresca's first Manchester derby as City manager, he insists his focus is on what victory would mean for the team and its supporters.
"Last year's game was not the best one for us but hopefully we can do a good one this season," he said.
"The main focus is not it's my first derby. I'm thinking more about the team, the fans, the table.
"For sure if we win it's also good for me, but I want to win because that is good for everyone."
