Bernardo hits back after Dyche’s ‘cheat’ claims
BERNARDO Silva has hit back at Burnley boss Sean Dyche labelling him a cheat by saying ‘It was a penalty’.
The Portugal international fell dramatically in the penalty area under challenge from goalkeeper Nick Pope, with the game poised at 0-0.
Sergio Aguero scored from the spot to open the scoring and City went on to win 3-0 and open a five-point gap at the top of the table.
Replays showed that Pope’s knee trapped Bernardo’s ankle, but the incident led to a furious reaction from Clarets players, largely because Bernardo’s fall was very dramatic.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche said the penalty award may not have been crucial to City winning the game, but he was angry at the way Bernardo fell.
“If I kicked my kid in the garden he wouldn’t fall like that,” he said, before adding: “They call it simulation – I don’t know why, because it’s cheating.
“It’s an art in itself to fall like that, with your hands in the air.”
But Bernardo was adamant that it was a foul, saying: “He clearly touched me, I felt it. I haven’t seen the replay yet but I think it was a penalty.”
When quizzed further about the theatrical nature of his fall, the 23-year-old midfielder said the challenge was a painful one.
“As I said, he touched me and my ankle turned. It hurt a little bit and for me it was a penalty,” he said.