“It feels really dark” – Bernardo Silva admits ‘the situation is bad’ but hopes remain of Real Madrid comeback | OneFootball

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has admitted it is difficult to digest his side’s painful 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie.

City were swept apart by a resolute Real Madrid side at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night as Los Blancos captain Federico Valverde scored a stunning hat-trick within 22 minutes of the first-half to effectively spearhead his team to the quarter-final.

Pep Guardiola‘s men were lacklustre in attack and disjointed in defence as despite enjoying 60% possession against Alvaro Arebloa and co, the Blues failed to threaten Thibaut Courtois in net to leave themselves a mountain to climb in next week’s return leg at home.

Manchester City are already up against it in the Premier League title race as they look to cut down Arsenal‘s seven point lead at the top of the table in their final nine games of the league campaign, starting with a visit to West Ham this weekend.

What did Bernardo Silva make of Manchester City’s first leg performance against Real Madrid?

Silva struggled to orchestrate proceedings in the Spanish capital as part of a two-man midfield alongside Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, with Manchester City attacking with great numbers but getting repeatedly caught out on the break by a clever Real Madrid side that made the most of the resources at their disposal against the Premier League title hopefuls.

“It’s difficult to speak about it because I’d need to watch it again,” Silva said after City’s 3-0 defeat in Madrid in conversation with official club media. “My feeling on the pitch was we started well. The environment, we couldn’t control.

“I think my team let emotions change the game. We felt comfortable, finding the right spaces, but after conceding the first, we lost completely the control, stopped controlling transitions and second balls.

“When you play against Real Madrid, with the quality they have, you pay the price. It’s a tough stadium. We’re used to playing at these stadiums because Anfield, St. James’ Park is very tough. You need to go through these moments to become better and today was just a learning game for the whole team.”

Is Bernardo Silva optimistic of a turnaround in the Round of 16 return leg at the Etihad Stadium?

Silva expressed his frustration at Manchester City not coming away from the loss with at least a goal to take back to Manchester, but retains belief over the Blues pulling off a sensational comeback in the second leg at home.

“It’s quite frustrating (we didn’t score), even though we believe it’s still possible (to come back and win) because in football a lot can happen,” the 31-year-old midfielder added.

“At half-time, we were saying, ‘The situation is bad’. A lot of things shouldn’t have happened but with one goal, you’re in the tie. At 3-0, it makes it a bit more difficult. Now it feels really bad, now it feels really dark.

“Tomorrow is another day and for sure, next week – we will go to the game thinking we have a chance. Right now is the moment to reflect and see what we didn’t do right. Then next week, when we’re preparing, we’ll be hopeful we can do something.”

City need to quickly forego their woes from Madrid and turn their attention to the Premier League title race as they aim for victory over West Ham in London at the weekend in an attempt to cut down Arsenal’s seven point lead at the top of the table in their final nine games of the league season.