Bernardo breakthrough delights Pep

– Pep Guardiola (right) isn’t an easy man to please, so the Manchester City manager’s assertion that it is “impossible” to be happier with Bernardo Silva is a testament to the Portuguese midfielder’s breakthrough at the Premier League champions.

City’s record-breaking campaign last season owed much to the class of Kevin de Bruyne. But in the Belgian’s absence due to a long-term knee injury, the wealth of options on offer to Guardiola is paying off through both Bernardo and namesake David Silva.

Both players had very different struggles despite City’s success last season.

Bernardo played his part in eliminating City from the Cham-

Manchester

pions League with Monaco in Guardiola’s first season in Manchester, but had to be patient after making a £43 million move to the Premier League as the outstanding form of De Bruyne, Silva, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling limited his starts.

A year on, De Bruyne’s injury has offered him the chance to play regularly as the creative hub of the City midfield and Guardiola was uncharacteristically gushing after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Fulham.

“It is almost impossible to be more pleased as a manager with him,” said Guardiola. “He is skinny, small, but he is wow!

“He deserves to play all the minutes he plays.” –