Pep Guardiola reveals Manchester City star was ‘mentally empty’ during losing streak this season | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva will be an ‘unforgettable’ name for Pep Guardiola following his tireless efforts for the club during their lowest moments this season.

It has been an all-round challenging affair for Manchester City’s previously all-conquering squad this season, succumbing to widespread injury and fitness problems to hold themselves back from competing for the biggest honours.

Despite a blistering start to their Premier League season and establishing themselves unbeaten by the end of October, a torrid run of form across November and December in particular ended any hopes of a fifth successive English top-flight title.

Those struggles on the pitch transferred into European competition too, as Manchester City failed to reach the last-16 stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2012 as Real Madrid knocked out the side in a play-off round following the league phase.

But despite the difficulties of the campaign as a whole, there are plenty of names that can continue to hold their head high and be proud of their individual season, with Pep Guardiola keen to namedrop one star in particular this week.

Speaking in the aftermath of Manchester City’s dramatic 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night, the Etihad boss was highlighted his admiration and love for the efforts put in by Bernardo Silva throughout the course of a difficult season to date.

“I don’t forget Bernardo; what he has done for us this season, especially this season. I don’t forget! I don’t forget November, December, January, February, March when we didn’t win one single game, and he was there: EVERY. SINGLE. TIME,” Pep Guardiola passionately admitted.

The Manchester City manager continued, “Running 30 kilometres every way, playing different positions, running, and there was a moment that he was empty, mentally.

“And after that not winning games, he was tired, he was empty. But Bernardo, in the important games, has an incredibly huge personality. He’s a player that, for me, is on another level for many, many reasons.”

Despite the public showing of admiration for Bernardo Silva from his head coach, the future of the Portuguese international remains in some doubt as the summer transfer window approaches at speed.

With incoming director of football overseeing a revamp of the Manchester City side, there is expected to be a number of alterations made in the centre of the park in particular, with Kevin De Bruyne’s fate and pending exit already confirmed.

Ilkay Gundogan appears to be in line for an additional season however, after the former Germany international triggered an automatic 12-month extension to his initial one-year deal through the number of appearances he has made for the club since his return last summer.