51 matches with Manchester City, in which he participated in eleven goals (five goals and six assists): These are the numbers for Bernardo Silva this season, and this is perhaps the least that describes the player and the season he accomplished. He is best described by his coach, Pep Guardiola, who paid tribute to him after the quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich (3-0, April 11), on one of the evenings he released Kevin De Bruyne during the match. The match, which angered the Belgian: “He’s one of the best players I’ve coached in my life. He’s special. Bernardo is an important player in this kind of game, he can play in midfield, wrong 9, he’s scored a lot of goals lately. You can ask him to play in such a position, he understands everything.” Something… Bernardo is a footballer. What does that mean? He will play everywhere because he understands the game, Bernardo has the ability to read it.”
There was a time when Guardiola was already very fond of the former Monaco player, and there were a few months last season when that love was more on display, around the time Riyad Mahrez started out in the big games on the right flank. . But in six combined seasons, the Portuguese only lasted long enough to breathe a little. Of course, speaking in public, Guardiola turns on his stars, he has only positive words for them, most often, like Arsene Wenger, who only emphasized the qualities of his players.
But when it comes to the Portuguese, Guardiola always takes praise a step further. As he did in January, for example, when asked about the possible departure of Bernardo Silva at the end of the season: “He’s a key player, very important on and off the field. A boy you can talk to, you always get to know his humanity, his vision for the club. He’s an incredible player against the top teams, incredibly reliable. In crucial matches, he’s always there.”
He played in six different locations this season
He has played 90 minutes in every Champions League knockout game for Manchester City since leaving the group stage. For versatility, Guardiola has sometimes pushed a little, which he has admitted: this winter he was asked to play left-back in a four-man defense when City didn’t have the ball, and he was the 3-2-4-match midfielder. 1 with the ball, and it was not a victory, especially against Arsenal, despite the victory (3-1) in February.
Guardiola kept this idea, but asked John Stones to switch from the defending four to the second midfield, when City had possession of the ball, and Bernardo Silva regained his influence in all other areas. He’s played in six different positions this season, but for a few weeks now and the Catalan hasn’t deviated from his usual squad, Bernardo Silva is a theoretical right winger, with that improbable ability to dribble outside too while not using his right foot much. for him. What does he like most? freedom. We’ll see him on Wednesday night, at the Union, and maybe next season at the Parc des Princes.
