Bernardo isn’t surprised by his pal’s form but they’re foes today
THEY have been brothers in arms for Portugal since making their international debuts together as schoolboys.
But Paulo Bernardo has had no problem putting his friendship with Fabio Silva on hold this past week as they prepare to face each other in Old Firm battle at Ibrox.
Celtic midfielder Bernardo and Rangers striker Silva were side by side as recently as last month on a successful international break with Portugal’s Under-21s.
Both players were in scoring form as convincing victories over the Faroe Islands and Croatia kept the Portuguese firmly on course to qualify for next year’s Euro Under-21 finals in Slovakia.
Even as they shared the joy of those wins, however, the duo were casting their minds forward to today’s massive showdown. The Old Firm clash at Ibrox could go a long way to deciding which one of them ends the Scott i sh season a s league title winner.
B e r n a rd o said: “We spoke to each other about it when we were playing for the national team last month. We were both saying it will be a good game.
“I want Celtic to win,
Fabio wants Rangers to win – so let’s see.
“We have a good relationship. We spoke when he first arrived in Glasgow in January. Then we spoke again when we met up with the national team.
“But there has been no contact between us this last week. I don’t think we have shut down our friendship but it’s a great game and we are rivals.
“Off the pitch, me and Fabio are friends. But now we are just focused on the game.”
It’s not the first time Bernardo and Silva have been on opposite sides of a famous football divide.
They were friends and rivals during their careers in youth football with Portugal’s big two Benfica and Porto.
Bernardo said: “We have known each other since Under-14 football.
“He played for Porto, the rivals of Benfica where I began, then he came to Benfica for two seasons.
“He then went back to Porto and we became rivals again – but we still played together for the national youth teams all the way through the age groups.
“So we have known each other for quite a long time now.”
Bernardo was first to make the move to Glasgow when he joined Celtic on a season- long loan from Benfica last summer.
Silva, signed by Wolves from Porto in a £35million transfer four years ago, followed his compatriot north in January this year when Rangers secured him on loan for the second half of the campaign.
Bernardo said: “I’m not surprised at how well Fabio has done. I’ve always thought he is a good player.
“When he came to Rangers I thought it would be good for him and for their team too.
“He is doing well. Just for this game, though, I hope he can take his foot off the pedal!
“Fabio is fast and strong. He presses a lot. Technically he is a good player and he finishes well.
“So we have to take care of him when we face him in the derby.”
WhilWhile Silva prepares for his Old Firm dedebut, Bernardo is hoping to create another special memory after scoringsc a stunning goal in his first ggame against Rangers in Celtic’s 2-1 win at Parkhead back in December.Dec
The 22- year- old smiled and saidsaid: “It was nice to score, it was a good goal. The atmosphere at the game was surprising for me.
“I’d heard before the match that it was a huge game. It was good and I enjoyed it a lot. But we have to prepare ourselves to do it again.
“We are feeling confident. It is going to be a good match but we will prepare for this game like we do for any other.
“It’s three points on the road. We play every game to win. It’s one game, not a final.
“It’s a huge game but I don’t think it will be decisive in the title race.
“We will want to win all of our remaining games to win the league.
“It’s the same for every game – we have to prepare ourselves the best we can to play nice football and win the game.”
Celtic ha v e dominated the Old Firm fixture in recent years with Brendan Rodgers enjoying an especially impressive record of just one defeat in his 15 games against the Ibrox side.
“That’s good but every game is just one game,” said Bernardo. “The past is the past. We have to build again for the future.
“We expect to face a great opponent. Rangers are our rivals so they have to be good too to play against us. So let’s see.
“The team are confident. Some players have come back from injury too so that’s good for the group.
“There is a lot of competition for places and that helps the team.
“Everyone will give the best of themselves to play good football.”
Although it may impact his own prospects of a place in the starting line-up, Bernardo welcomed the return from injury of Celtic captain Callum McGregor.
He said: “Callum is our leader so it’s good to have him back.
“He is the voice of the team. We have some other important players but Cal is our captain and it’s really good to have him back.
“It’s good timing. It gives us more confidence and more quality too. He’s a great player as well as a great captain.”
Fabio is fast, strong and he finishes well .. we’ll have to take care of him BERNARDO FIRES WARNING ABOUT PAL SILVA’S THREATS