Bernardo deserves the best, says Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has promised that he and his players will do everything in their power to give Bernardo Silva the best possible send off over the final weeks of the season.

Men's Team

City will fight to give Bernardo the right send-off, says Zabaleta

The club captain confirmed on Thursday that this will be his final campaign at City after nine years of exceptional service.

A fierce competitor and outstanding technician, the Portuguese midfielder has played 451 times since arriving in 2017 and been selected by Guardiola more than anyone else in the Catalan’s coaching career.

SHOP | THE PUMA PEP DECADE COLLECTION

During that time, he’s contributed to 19 major trophies and there could still be more to come over the next five weeks.

While the time for a full celebration of Bernardo’s City career will come at the close of the season, the captain made it clear in his statement that he was keen to return focus to our Premier League and FA Cup challenges.

And although Guardiola is sad to see another legend of the club prepare for pastures new, he echoed the sentiment that the best way to send him off is with yet more silverware.

“These players leaving, it’s part of myself leaving too. It’s difficult to imagine without him,” he said in Friday’s pre-match press conference.

Watch video for free with a Cityzens account

Register Sign in

Men's Team

How can I watch City v Arsenal on TV?

“I’ve said many times that on and off the pitch he made an incredible statement during nine years here and he has been massively, massively, massively important.

“There have been many players that have been who we are. Winning and performing incredibly well. Mentally and everything.

“Hopefully we can deliver to him and he’s going to help us, I know that very well. He’s a special player in those terms. Hopefully we can deliver a good month because he deserves the best.

“We have won 19 titles together and still we are challenging in two and we are going for it, that’s for sure.”

City now sit six points back from Premier League leaders Arsenal, who we face in a 16:30 (UK) kick-off this Sunday.

With a game in hand on the Gunners, victory at the Etihad this weekend would give Pep and Bernardo a significant boost in the hunt for a seventh title.

Men's Team

Analysing Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash

Having seen his team swat aside Liverpool and Chelsea in recent weeks after last month’s Carabao Cup final defeat of Arsenal, Guardiola would have every right to feel confident.

However, the boss says he’s focused on what he’s seeing on the training pitch and doing his best to help a largely inexperienced squad navigate the pressure of a title race.

“My confidence is in how we train and the players believe what we have to do. This is where the confidence comes from,” he said.

“Six Premier Leagues in the past, that does not give you confidence to win the next game because Ederson and [Ilkay] Gundo[gan], Kevin [De Bruyne], Kyle [Walker], Manu [Akanji] - a lot of players who made a lot of things aren’t here anymore.

“A lot are new. We will see. Cherki never won Premier League so how will he behave in that position? Gigio [Donnarumma], Khusa[nov] never been here.

“Nico [O’Reilly] it’s the first time he’s really there and Antoine [Semenyo] arrived a month ago, Marc Guéhi arrived weeks ago.

“There are lots of players who are going to play and try to win the first Premier League in my life.

“How we behave? I don’t know. My target is ‘guys, this will happen tomorrow and we will try to do this.

“I will try to convince them and say ‘let’s go’. That’s the way the game has to be played. Many things we cannot control.”

Be at City’s FA Cup semi-final!

Pep Guardiola’s brilliant Blues are on the hunt for yet more silverware under Wembley’s famous arch.

We return to the national stadium on Saturday 25 April in a 17:15 (UK) kick-off for our FA Cup semi-final with Southampton.

And Members can be there with prices starting from £30 for adults and £20 for U18s and over 65s.

As we’ve seen with other recent Wembley visits, it’s an occasion not to be missed!

Get your tickets now!