CITY Bernardo could be the sequel to Sane
BERNARDO Silva could emulate Leroy Sane and light up the second half of City’s season.
The Blues midfielder has had a so-so start to his career with the club after his £43m move from Monaco in the summer – although there have been moments when his class is evident.
At this stage of last season, similar things were being said about £37m signing Leroy Sane.
The young German had looked good in flashes, but his career had yet to take off – until he scored against Arsenal, an act that lit the Blue touchpaper.
That tipping point came a week before Christmas, and he followed it with goals in each of the next two games – and ended the season with nine in total, and City fans raving about his talent.
The comparisons are valid, even if the two represent very different concepts of what a winger should be.
Sane tweaked a hamstring in pre-season last year and that contributed to his slow start, as well as the fact that he was a teenager starting a new life at a new club in a strange country.
Bernardo did not suffer an injury, but the fact that he was with Portugal until the Confederations Cup semi-final on June 28 meant that he missed City’s entire preseason. He was never going to be any more than a substitute on the opening day of the season – and when the team begins with 18 wins and a draw, your chances are sure to be limited.
Bernardo got his first start for more than three weeks in the 1-0 win over Feyenoord and, while he looked neat and skilful, there was no real end product.
By contrast, his main competitor for a place in the team, Raheem Sterling, was City’s most dangerous player and ended up scoring the winner. Sterling’s unpredictable style is a huge contrast to Bernardo’s measured, cultured approach – but Guardiola feels Bernardo will still have a huge contribution to make in the months ahead.
“Bernardo is a player who never plays bad,” said the manager.
“He made little mistakes with the ball or taking decisions but he is probably the guy who runs the most. He is clever and intelligent, a player who is clear inside or outside.
“He does not have the speed of Raz (Sterling) or Leroy for example but he is so, so clever.
“He was so important last season for Monaco. And the last 10 to 15 minutes he played against Napoli when it was 3-2 he came in and had the quality to have the ball and keep it.
“He is in the beginning and maybe he needs a little bit more time but he is so intelligent and played really well.”