Bernardo calls for inquest after ‘unacceptable’ display

Bernardo Silva branded Manchester City’s performance “unacceptable” and admitted the champions’ dismal title defence required an internal inquest.

City have lost a quarter of their 28 Premier League games this term – one more than over the previous two title-winning campaigns combined – and trail runaway leaders Liverpool by 25 points.

“It was a bad game for us. Not acceptable,” the City midfielder said. “We were playing well until we conceded. We know how good the United players are on the counter-attack, very aggressive.

“We will have to watch the game back and listen to what Pep [Guardiola, the manager] has to say. But a team like ours cannot lose this many games. We need to check what’s not going right and try not to make so many mistakes.”

Guardiola disagreed with Bernardo’s appraisal. “Unacceptable? I don’t agree with Bernardo,” the City manager said. “We played really well. In the first half we needed to be a bit more aggressive in the final third – [Ilkay] Gundogan and Bernardo needed more aggression in their position – but in the second half we did it a bit better.

“We are not far away. At the end of the season with the club we are going to talk about what the situation is and we will see.”

Guardiola also refused to criticise goalkeeper Ederson for an errorstrewn display that included mistakes for both of United’s goals.

“He’s an extraordinary keeper,” he said. “It’s part of the game, so next time he’s going to do better.”

Kevin De Bruyne’s absence with a shoulder injury was keenly felt and Guardiola said he did not know if he would have the Belgian midfielder back for Wednesday’s game at home to Arsenal.

“What we have done the previous seasons, we did it all of us, not just one or two,” he said when asked if City were becoming dependent on De Bruyne. “Kevin is so important, but everyone is important.”