‘Messizinho’ lurks for City
MONACO lose some of their best players every season but they keep attracting top youngsters like Bernardo Silva, who they will be relying on when they visit Manchester City in their Champions League last 16, first leg clash tonight.
The Portugal offensive midfielder, 22, has been nicknamed Messizinho (the Little Messi) by teammate Joao Moutinho and according to media reports Manchester United and Chelsea have already tried to secure his services for next season.
Silva, who joined the principality club from Benfica in 2014, has amazing dribbling skills and the vision that could make him an old-school playmaker, although he has developed a roaming role and likes to push wide.
“When Bernardo arrived, I straight away said he was a good player but that he needed to keep working,” said Moutinho. “And that’s what he’s done this year. He had two fine seasons, but this year he’s really been a revelation.
“Messi, Eusebio, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona, Pele... They’re players who are and will remain in football history. I hope and believe that Bernardo has the quality to get close to that level.”
With six goals and five assists in 25 Ligue 1 appearances, Silva has been instrumental in Monaco’s rise to the top of the table in a team who have scored 76 goals in 26 matches.
City, on the other hand, have conceded 29 in 25 Premier League games, making former England striker Michael Owen’s assumption that Monaco were a “good draw” a bold assessment.
Monaco geared up for the clash with a disappointing 1-1 draw at lowly Bastia in Ligue 1 on Friday, but City have no reason for over-confidence after being held to a 0-0 stalemate at second-tier Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
The Citizens will be without Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Jesus, who has had foot surgery and will be out of action for at least two months after a promising start at the club.
Vincent Kompany, however, is expected to be fit again after missing the FA Cup game with an injury which Guardiola described as “not a big issue”.
Guardiola was not too worried that his team were held by a Championship side in the FA Cup and Monaco were not overly concerned by their result either.
“Let’s not be worried, we missed the first half but did good after the break. It’s the second half that we need to reproduce against City,” said Monaco forward Valere Germain.
Meanwhile, embattled Leicester City turn their attentions to the one competition they have had success in, during a nightmarish season for the English champions when they visit high-flying Sevilla tomorrow.
Europe’s elite competition has been a welcome distraction for Claudio Ranieri’s side, which has come crashing back down to earth after last year’s logic-defying title win but keeps defying the odds in Europe.
Leicester finished top of their group and conceded just one goal in their first five games, and a brief escape is just what they need as their domestic woes show no sign of easing.
They will get little respite from a transformed Sevilla side, which is enjoying its most exciting season in a decade as it chases Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga, and mounts a serious challenge in the Champions League after winning the Europa League three times in a row.
Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli has brought a new speed and intensity to the Andalusian side’s possession play, that yielded its biggest ever points total in the first half of a season.
“He has very specific ideas that he has implanted in our heads and we have responded really well to them,” midfielder Pablo Sarabia told Spanish daily newspaper Estadio Deportivo.
“We’re getting really good results too which is vital when you change your idea of how to play.” – Reuters