CHAMPION GUARDIOLA

PEP GUARDIOLA has the backing of his Manchester City players after ignoring club bosses to launch a staunch defence of Bernardo Silva (right) over racism allegations.

Guardiola was told by senior comms staff not to comment after the FA launched an investigation into a Twitter post by the

Portuguese midfielder which likened team-mate Benjamin Mendy to the black cartoon marketing mascot of a Spanish chocolate snack.

Silva deleted the tweet after his unfortunate attempt at making Mendy laugh fell flat last Sunday.

Silva faces a minimum six-match ban if he is found guilty of making a racial slur.

City boss Guardiola felt compelled to speak out after seeing how the storm had affected the morale of Silva and the rest of his squad. He defended Silva following City’s 3-0 Carabao Cup win at Preston on Tuesday night and again on Friday, ahead of last night’s 3-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

After yesterday’s game, Raheem Sterling made it clear how Bernardo, 25, has the full backing of his team-mates.

He said: “It’s a situation that no one needs at this moment in time.

“It’s a situation between two friends.

“I can see the point where people can get touchy-feely about it, but I feel that the situation is that Bernardo made a joke to one of his friends.

“He hasn’t referred to his skin colour. In both pictures they have got small heads and at no point is there a reference to skin colour.

“It’s been really sad to see someone like Bernardo be down about it because he’s not that way inclined.

“I can see where the criticism comes from, but it was not in any way intentional. He wasn’t trying to be racist.”