GOLD IN EUROPE IS SILVA DREAM
BERNARDO SILVA has claimed Manchester City don’t have enough Euro experience to be favourites to lift the Champions League.
And although he insists Pep Guardiola’s stars aren’t panicking after losing their opening group game to Lyon at The Etihad Stadium, the Portuguese midfielder reckons the bookies got it wrong rating City above more seasoned sides.
“It was a mistake for people to say we are favourites to win the Champions League,” he said.
“And I am sure that all the other players here feel the same. Yes, this club is expected to win trophies.
“But favourites for the Champions League? If you look into the past, we have never won this competition and so other teams are more experienced at this level.
Special
“That is a big difference in the Champions League. It is a special competition.
“It’s not like a league championship, where you have 38 games and you have to be consistent. In the Champions League, you can have one bad game and you are finished. Last season, we had 30 bad minutes at Liverpool and we were out.”
Silva insists City’s dominance in their recordbreaking Premier League title charge last season counts for nothing in Europe.
“We won’t forget about the records we set,” he added. “Last season was special, but it means nothing this year.”
Guardiola and his stars head to Germany knowing after losing to Lyon they can’t afford another slip against Hoffenheim.
Silva said: “We are not panicking. We will try to improve against Hoffenheim.
“It is never good to start any competition with a defeat, especially when you are at home in front of your fans, and it wasn’t a good performance from us.
“Lyon deserved their win and now we must be better.
“The good thing is that we have got more games to put things right.”