Guardiola pays tribute to Silva amid departure rumours – and gives injury update on defensive quartet | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola played his cards close to his chest when asked about the possible departure of Bernado Silva at the end of the season, but praised his captain effusively.  He also delivered an injury update on Ruben Dias, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.

Following Manchester City’s assistant coach Pep Lijnders suggestion that Bernado Silva would be departing at the end of the season, it was manager Pep Guardiola’s turn to face questions about his captain’s future.

 After Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph against Liverpool, Lijnders declared: “You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist.

“Bernardo Silva is unique,” he added. “Every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months – there are only six weeks – and has a good farewell.”

Guardiola was reluctant to give definitive confirmation that Silva would be leaving after nine years with the club, but was incredibly positive about the midfielder, saying that making him captain was his “best decision” of the season.

“All managers would say how much they love him because he is incredibly competitive, has a fire inside him always,” Pep said. “In the toughest moments and on the biggest stages, he is always there.

“He has been an incredible signing for us, incredible. I love this club and I would love if he could stay and finish his career here but I do not know,” he continued. “He will decide what he will decide. It is his decision.

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“I do not know if he has already decided. I said jokingly to him to tell me, I deserve [to be the first to know], but he didn’t tell me. I do not know what is going on,” he laughed. 

Ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Chelsea, Guardiola also discussed the fitness of his defensive stars, ruling out the return of Dias and Gvardiol on the weekend. The Spaniard has been hampered by a hamstring injury and did not feature in City’s Carabao Cup triumph in March, with the manager declaring that he is “getting better” but “not ready for Sunday.”

As for Gvardiol, who has been out since January with a broken leg, Guardiola could only say: “He is getting better too, but is not close [to a return].”

There was better news regarding Stones and Kovacic, with the Croatian “fine” according to his manager and seemingly available for the weekend’s fixture. 

“[Stones] will do a partial training today and we’ll see,” concluded Guardiola.

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