Bernardo lays claim to be derby legend
IT took Bernardo Silva a good few seconds to realise that he had scored his third goal at Old Trafford for City.
As he stretched for the ball and it bounced towards the byline, refusing to give up on a cause that barely seemed worth pursuing, he lost balance and rolled away from goal.
It was only when Bernardo craned his neck and saw that the ball had managed to squirm its way past an unsuspecting David de Gea that he knew his efforts had not been in vain. Bernardo’s goal on the stroke of half-time, an unusual strike that typified his workhorse mentality and desire to fight for every ball, allowed City to cruise through the rest of the 186th Manchester derby.
It was a blow that crushed Manchester United’s belief that they could somehow fight back against Pep Guardiola’s unrelenting City storm, that they could channel ‘the United way’ - whatever that is - and take something from a game they deserved nothing from.
Bernardo certainly loves a trip to Old Trafford. He has faced United away from home on five occasions for Pep Guardiola’s side, scoring in three of them; City won all three.
He first visited Old Trafford in April 2019, where a superb dribble then shot into the bottom corner set City on their way to a 2-0 win and ultimately the Premier League title.
In January 2020, a stunning curling strike into the top corner began a first-half demolition in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg, with City going on to win the game 3-1. Only against Burnley has he scored more goals for City (four), a fact that places him firmly in contention to be City’s greatest ever derby day hero.
Of course, he has some pretty stiff competition.
Sergio Aguero scored nine goals in 16 games against United, four of those coming at Old Trafford. The quality of some of the strikes was breathtaking - and hilarious when you consider the ways in which he repeatedly made Phil Jones look like something out of a circus.
Between 1966 and 1979, Colin Bell, widely regarded as City’s greatest ever player, scored seven goals in 12 Manchester derbies. Yaya Toure faced United 15 times in a City shirt and provided some truly memorable moments. That calm finish under the diving body of Edwin van der Sar in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley was arguably the moment when City fans started seeing their team as equals with, or even superiors to, United. Bernardo does not have the longevity of those three players but if Saturday was anything to go by,
Saturday’s cheeky effort provided further proof that Bernardo really can do it all
there’s every reason to believe he’ll soon be in the mix.
While not as aesthetically pleasing as his previous derby day goals, Saturday’s cheeky effort was no less important, and were it necessary, provided further proof that Bernardo really can do it all.
Not content with simply scoring a goal, Bernardo showcased his footballing intelligence by seamlessly flitting between playing as a false nine, an eight, a 10 and even a deeplying midfielder.
It’s that kind of versatility and selflessness to do anything for the cause that marks Bernardo out as the ultimate anti-United player. In years to come when the topic of City’s best derby day hero is raised, that will stand the Portuguese star in good stead.