Bernardo Silva, captain of Manchester City, expressed that not clinching any trophies is simply unacceptable for the club; however, he acknowledges that their period of dominance couldn’t be expected to continue indefinitely.
Last season marked the first time since 2016-17—the inaugural year of Pep Guardiola’s tenure—that City finished without silverware. Nonetheless, the Portuguese midfielder insists that the team is committed to restoring their winning mentality.
“I wish I could say that what we accomplished in my first seven years is the norm, but it isn’t,” Silva shared with BBC Sport.
“Winning six Premier Leagues, a treble, a domestic quadruple, achieving 100 points, breaking goal records… I could contend that our generation is the finest in English football history.
“Such success isn’t typical, so it’s unrealistic to expect it to last forever. For instance, in the Champions League final, seven or eight key players from that squad have moved on.
“A new generation is emerging, and they will need time to adjust. I’ve gone through a similar transition before, and it had a very positive outcome. When players like [Vincent] Kompany, Fernandinho, [Sergio] Aguero, and [David] Silva departed, the transition was gradual because we were still winning, making it easier. When you’re losing, however, it complicates the transition and increases the pressure on our younger talents.
“I believe we are in a much stronger position this season to pursue titles. Last season’s squad was very good, but we faced numerous injuries and challenges. Currently, I feel we’re far more equipped to contend for trophies.”
[BBC]