Manchester City needed a leader against Chelsea and Bernardo Silva stepped up when his team needed him | OneFootball

Manchester City made a horror start to their 3-1 win over Chelsea at the Etihad yesterday. An error from new signing Abdukodir Khusanov gifted Noni Madueke a goal in the games opening two minutes. From there Pep Guardiola’s side needed a leader to step up and help Khusanov through a rough beginning to his City career. Up stepped Bernardo Silva to help guide his team to a crucial victory. Bernardo’s performance was one for the ages in a must-win game for his team.

After Khusanov’s early error, you could see that the young centre-back was rattled. He picked up a booking moments after his key error. To his credit, he did bounce back from his early setback. But what stood out was when Khusanov was on the ball Bernardo Silva was quick to drop back and help the young defender. You could tell that Bernardo sensed that someone had to help Khusanov find his feet after a rocky start. It was Bernardo Silva who did exactly that in the first half.

Besides his effort to aid his new teammate, Bernardo Silva put in a man-of-the-match display against Chelsea. Alongside Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, he helped Manchester City control yesterday’s match. After a nervy opening 10 minutes Pep Guardiola’s side controlled yesterday’s match. It was a performance typical of Manchester City at their best. Bernardo Silva was at the heart of it. It was his best performance for some time.

Speaking after his team’s crucial win Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Bernardo Silva. The City manager told the media that Bernardo’s performance was crucial to his team’s win. He explained: “Bernardo was unbelievable; he helped us with the process.”

Bernardo Silva was brilliant against Chelsea yesterday. His leadership was crucial to his team’s vital win over Chelsea. At times City have lacked on field leaders this season. But yesterday Bernardo Silva stepped up and provided Pep Guardiola’s side with the leadership they needed to pick up three points. Without Bernardo’s leadership City may not have recovered from such an early setback. But Bernardo provided it at the Etihad yesterday and he deserves the highest praise for stepping up when his team needed him the most.