Guardiola hails City virtuoso Bernardo Silva but rages after his late miss
PEP GUARDIOLA’s anguish on the touchline was immediate and his anger became apparent soon after, but Bernardo Silva’s spectacular miss from barely 15 yards was a whole lot less significant than an all-round performance that promises a central role in the second decade of Manchester City’s grand plan.
The City manager had been irked by his side’s constant over-embellishments in a one-sided 3-0 win over Fulham, but hailed Bernardo as the “most loved guy in the locker room” following an otherwise virtuoso performance.
In the week that David Silva, City’s long-standing midfield genius, hinted that he might not renew a contract that expires in 2020, when he turns 35, here was the bountiful promise of a potential new bearer of the creative flame.
There are other contenders – such as the currently injured Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden – but Bernardo appears to most closely encapsulate the qualities of his illustrious namesake.
The little Portuguese has one of the finest first touches in the Premier League, a wondrous ability to manoeuvre in the tightest of spaces, the art of picking the right pass, physicality beyond his stature and he makes regular contributions to the scoresheet. It is a compelling list of credentials.
“Of course he can play there (in the centre) because he can fight. He is skinny, but he has that sense of intelligence,” Guardiola said.
“Last season he had a top impact because when he played three minutes from the bench he played the best he can play. He is the most loved guy in the locker room.”
Bernardo (24) arrived from Monaco for £43.5m in 2017, serving initially as Raheem Sterling’s deputy on the right side of City’s forward-most attacking trident.
“The second season is always easier than the first one. You have to adapt to the way the new team plays, to the league and the referees,” Bernardo said. “I have more confidence. I feel better with the team.” Bernardo should have crowned his Man of the Match display – which included setting up Silva’s 21st-minute strike – with a goal of his own, but blasted over with 10 minutes remaining. Guardiola said: “When the ball got passed to Bernardo I said it is impossible that he is going to miss it because of his quality, but he missed it. My reaction is when they miss the simple things, that I cannot handle. Still now I am angry.
“I am upset with my players and they know that. We spoke about that
many times. Control the ball and pass the ball simple.”
Perhaps it was just as well for a Fulham side who knocked the ball around confidently for fully 90 seconds, before gifting possession to Fernandinho.
Moments later, after a lightning City break and Leroy Sane’s simple finish, Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli was fishing the ball from the back of his net.
Fulham were chasing shadows for most of the afternoon and, when Sterling slid City three ahead early in the second-half, a deluge seemed imminent.
However, the game drifted to a conclusion, with the home side perhaps casting one eye towards Wednesday’s Champions League opener with Lyon at the Etihad Stadium.
“Our game plan was to try to keep them quiet for the first 20 minutes, but we made a mistake early on and got punished. That’s what happens when you play against teams like this,” said Bettinelli, fresh from his first England senior international squad call-up.
Fulham, who have just one win in five matches on their return to the top flight, at least departed the Etihad to glowing praise from Guardiola.
“They didn’t come here to defend and play long balls, they came here to play their own game. I am pretty sure Fulham will be in the Premier League next year,” he said. (©Daily Telegraph, London)