- Bernardo Silva has opened up on Pep Guardiola’s impact
- The midfielder looked up to Guardiola’s Barcelona side
- City captain is preparing to leave the Etihad this summer
Manchester City are preparing for the end of Bernardo Silva’s time at the Etihad Stadium, but his bond with Pep Guardiola remains central to his story.
Bernardo Silva joined Man City in 2017 after helping AS Monaco reach the Champions League final in the previous season.
At the time, City were still building the team that would go on to dominate English football. Likewise, Bernardo’s inclusion was a key piece in the puzzle to create one of modern football’s strongest sides.
However, the Portuguese midfielder didn’t always get credit for his intelligence. Instead, he was judged for his size, but Guardiola’s influence changed the 31-year-old’s trajectory.
Bernardo Silva opens up on Pep Guardiola inspiration
Speaking in an interview with Manchester City, Bernardo explained how Guardiola’s Barcelona side motivated him during a difficult period at Benfica.
The coaches at the time weren’t sure about Bernardo’s competence due to his size. However, Guardiola’s players gave the midfielder belief at a time others doubted him.
“Pep for me was always an inspiration because when he was training in Barcelona, that team with the small guys, with Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro,” Bernardo said.
He added, “I was at the time in Benfica, in my academy years, where I didn’t play because they thought that I wasn’t big enough, that I wasn’t strong enough.”
“And me looking at that team and thinking, these guys, they’re also not big, they’re also not strong. If they can do it, maybe one day I can do it.”
Guardiola’s football gave Bernardo a clear pathway
Even before working with Guardiola, the manager had already become an important figure in Bernardo’s life.
Despite limited chances at the academy level, Guardiola’s Barcelona kept the dream alive for the Portuguese midfielder.
The Catalan team showed that smaller players could dominate the game if the system was based on intelligence and control.
Bernardo went on to fit that system after joining City in 2017. Likewise, the trophies speak for themselves as his versatility and intelligence left a lasting mark at the Etihad.
Bernardo can become a reference point for the next generation
Following a successful career at Man City, Bernardo has become a reference for smaller players looking for inspiration.
The midfield position remains one of the few where intelligence is appreciated more than brute force under specific systems.
Likewise, just as Guardiola’s Barcelona gave him belief during his Benfica years, Bernardo’s career can now offer the same message to the next generation.
