Bernardo: Win over United was crucial to title
BERNARDO Silva revealed City’s players were confident they were going to win the Premier League title even before they kicked a ball at the start of the season.
But the 23-year-old says that it was the win over United at Old Trafford in December that made everyone believe they were going to be champions at the end of the season.
The Blues were already flying high as they went to their rivals on December 10, and goals from David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi secured a 2-1 win over the Reds - their closest challengers for the Premier League crown.
“I think even before the season started everyone looked at each other and knew we have the quality to win this league,” said the Portuguese forward.
“But after drawing the second game at home to Everton and then winning 18 games in a row, you feel that moment is special, that we were close to doing it.
“The win at Old Trafford was a big step for us, when everyone thought we were a little bit closer to winning it.“That was a special game at Old Trafford.
“Everyone knows how difficult it is to play there and to beat our biggest rivals away at their home gave us the confidence to go on and keep winning games.”
City have set records galore during what has been an amazing season for Pep Guardiola’s men.
And although the Blues have marched to the title with five games still to go, Bernardo believes the Premier League is the hardest title to win in world football.
He said: “It’s so good to win a competition that everyone knows is so hard to win. Especially with the gap we have between us and the other clubs.
“It’s an amazing feeling. We weren’t expecting to win it so early but now we’ve done it and it’s time to celebrate.
“Everyone knows that the Premier League is a special league – probably the best in the world and the hardest to win.
“To win it in France against PSG is not easy, but it’s a special feeling to win here in England and I’m looking forward already to winning a lot in the next seasons.”
With City not playing when their title success was secured on Sunday, the players were spread all over the world.
And Bernardo is looking ton forward to celebrating in style with victory over Swansea at the Etihad on Sunday as the players and fans can be together for a title party.
“We are looking forward to the game on Sunday already because all of the players will be there,” he said.
“The stadium will be full and we will try to make it a special night for all the fans.
“Unfortunately, not all the players were in Manchester (last Sunday) because Pep gave us three days off, so some of them travelled but the ones who were here went out to celebrate with our fans as well.
“It was great. The dressing room atmosphere and the way we work every day is very good and we have to keep it that way.
“We need to win the last five games, especially because we and our fans deserve to celebrate properly and the only way to do that is to keep winning games and score a lot of goals.
“We’ve always said that the most important thing is to win it, it didn’t matter how.
“But, of course, if you can win it and break a few records to add to the win it will make it even more special, so we will try to do it.”