Everyone that saw Elano’s amazing free kick last Saturday is still talking about it, and the man himself says he has never scored a better goal.

The 26-year-old Brazilian was unknown to most fans in this country before his arrival at City in the summer, but he’s now the talk of the Premier League after a succession of influential performances that culminated in his man-of-the-match-winning effort against Newcastle.

Blues fans are lapping up the Brazilian flair that Elano brings to the side, but the quietly spoken international is modest about his contribution.

Elano says, “That was my best-ever free kick and the best goal I’ve ever scored without a doubt.

“I’m really a team player, I don’t think that I’m a flamboyant, individual type of player at all. For me it’s as good to provide the perfect pass as to score the perfect goal.

“I couldn’t be happier as I’m playing for a great manager in Mr Eriksson. He is fantastic to work with and learn from, and playing for this club has answered all my prayers.”

Originally from Sao Paolo, the former Santos player has also discussed how his background shaped his career.

“Football was a way out for me, a lot of people get involved with the gangs in Sao Paolo but I had football to concentrate on instead. My family did not have much money and I had to get a combination of four buses and trams just to get to training. Everything eventually worked out for me, but I never forget how I got started.”

Following the Middlesbrough match on Sunday, Elano will fly to South America to prepare for Brazil’s World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador, and he says that the move to City has improved his international prospects.

“Playing for Shakhtar Donetsk was holding me back a little bit, I think, and it was the reason why I didn’t make it into Brazil’s squad for the last World Cup. I wanted to test myself and the Premier League is one of the best in the world, so I’m grateful to Mr Eriksson for giving me the chance and I’m very happy here at City.”