Bernardo is looking forward to away day
BERNARDO Silva admits City must improve their home record against United – but will be going to Old Trafford on Saturday to maintain an impressive derby away run.
In recent times, meetings between City and United have followed a similar pattern, with the away side victorious more often than not. In fact, only one in last eight derbies has resulted in a home win – and three in 16 meetings since Pep Guardiola’s arrival.
In total, Guardiola’s derby record gives him an impressive five wins and one draw from eight trips to Old Trafford, but just one win and four defeats from six home meetings.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is one of the few managers who can boast a better record against Guardiola than the City boss has over them, winning four of their eight meetings opposed to
Guardiola’s three wins.
And Bernardo accepts that City have had more joy away at United, but sent a warning to his side that this will be a different kind of opponent that they usually face across town
“We’re five points behind Chelsea, they are eight points behind Chelsea,” he started, in an interview with Sky Sports. “Both teams need to win, and it’s going to be an entertaining game that we really want to win and need to win. It’s going to be a great game. “I always have the feeling we play better away than at home against them.
“I don’t know if it’s just in my head, but most of the games we won were in Old Trafford and at home we always seem, like we lose most of the games which is strange.
“It’s never easy to play against these kind of players but in some games I remember that we should have done better against them.”
Bernardo expanded on his comments, explaining how United’s counter attacking qualities have usually been City’s downfall, especially at the Etihad, but noted that Solskjaer’s men play differently this season after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
He continued: “When you play against quality players, they changed the way they play now, but they were so good running on the counter attacks and exploiting the space in behind our back. It was never easy.
“Different game, different teams. Now the way Manchester United are playing is completely different to the way they were playing last season.
“It’s going to be an entertaining game we need to win.”