Bernardo: We aren’t Euro favourites
BERNARDO Silva insists City are not favourites to win the Champions League after the Blues fell to a shock defeat against Lyon at the Etihad.
City were uncharacteristically abject in the first half and respective mistakes from Fabian Delph and Aymeric Laporte were punished as Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir fired Lyon into a two-goal lead before half-time.
Bernardo pulled one back for the Blues after stand-in boss Mikel Arteta brought on substitutes Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane, but the strike was in vain as the Blues fell to the bottom spot in Group F.
And Bernardo, whose effort was his second goal of the season, was disappointed with City’s showing.
“We were not good enough. We didn’t want to start the competition this way but it is what it is,” the Portuguese said.
“We’re not favourites. We have a good team. We’ll try to make better than last season. A club like City try to win every competition.
“I think we have to focus on us, especially the first half we were not at our best. We didn’t press at the same intensity we usually do.”
John Stones, who partnered Laporte in defence, was disappointed by his side’s offering.
“Really disappointed. To concede two goals like we did was very frustrating especially in first half,” Stones added.
“We came in a bit deflated. Second half we came out fighting. We had a better second half, created a lot of chances. It’s the first game, it’s still early days.”