“We can lose a lot” – Bernardo Silva issues clear warning to Manchester City teammates over coming fixtures | OneFootball

Bernardo Silva has insisted to his Manchester City teammates that ‘a lot’ can be lost in the coming matches off the back of a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Key takeaways: Bernardo Silva’s warning

The stalemate at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday left Pep Guardiola’s side trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by seven points, though the Citizens do still hold a game in hand.

With the Gunners securing a 0-1 win away at Brighton & Hove Albion courtesy of a solitary Bukayo Saka strike on the same evening, the margin for error has narrowed significantly for Manchester City as the season enters its definitive final quarter.

The result also brought an end to City’s impressive six-match winning streak – a run that had briefly put the title race back in their own hands. Now, with a blockbuster schedule on the horizon including a Carabao Cup final showdown against Mikel Arteta’s side, Bernardo Silva is calling for immediate focus to avoid a total collapse of their four-front trophy hunt.

Bernardo Silva’s post-match reality check

Speaking to reporters after City’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, Bernardo insisted that while nothing can be won in the immediate matches, he and his teammates can ‘lose a lot’ if results do not fall in their favour.

“It’s quite disappointing what happened [against Nottingham Forest], especially at home, we didn’t want to drop these two points. Tomorrow’s another day, it will feel a bit better, and after tomorrow, even better,” said the Portugal international.

“We’re still in four competitions so there’s no point in looking back now and crying, we need to go for the next game and hopefully we’re going to have the last two or three months, fighting for all the titles, which is our main goal,” he continued.

The 31-year-old went on to explain, “We have a young team and it takes time to learn these things or to experience these things. Winning helps a lot.

“So hopefully if we win this year it will take away the pressure that these games carry even more in the next seasons, but it’s for sure a young team that we all together need to manage better these moments.

“I would say that in these few weeks we’re not going to win a lot, but we can lose a lot. Apart from the Carabao final obviously, the rest of this month can keep us alive to fight for the competitions until the end, or it can put us down and we just go for one or two competitions. Hopefully, we will still be in all four of them in a month’s time.”

Manchester City’s defining March schedule

The timing of Bernardo Silva’s warning pairs with Manchester City preparing for a gruelling run that will test the depth of their recently ‘refreshed’ squad, as overseen by sporting director Hugo Viana.

Eyes are already pivoting in some quarters toward Sunday, March 22 when Manchester City travel to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal – a match that could serve as a psychological ‘sliding doors’ moment for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.

Beyond domestic duties, the shadow of the Champions League remains, with City needing to maintain domestic momentum to fuel their European ambitions, as they take on Real Madrid in a last-16 double-header this month.

And the current crop of senior leaders within the Etihad Stadium squad like Bernardo Silva and Rodri are no doubt under immense pressure to ensure the club’s younger arrivals understand the high-stakes environment of a Manchester City run-in.

Why Bernardo Silva’s ‘young team’ warning matters now

Bernardo Silva’s emphasis on a ‘young team’ highlights the transition occurring under Hugo Viana. While 2024/25 was defined by injury-induced stagnation, the 2025/26 squad relies heavily on the ‘mid-season momentum’ of younger profiles.

Silva’s warning serves as a tactical reminder that in the Pep Guardiola system, emotional management of a draw is as important as the tactical execution itself. With Arsenal leading by seven points, City’s ability to turn this ‘disappointment’ into wins will likely determine if the Hugo Viana era starts with a trophy.