Pep Guardiola expressed that with Bernardo Silva set to leave Manchester City, “part of myself is leaving” as he encouraged his team to provide the talented Portugal international with the perfect farewell.
The City captain recently confirmed his departure at the end of the season when his contract expires, putting an end to any speculation following a remarkable nine years filled with trophies.
Guardiola is hopeful that Silva can add to his impressive tally of 19 honors before he departs, as the team aims for the Premier League and FA Cup in the quest for a domestic treble.
Speaking ahead of a crucial match against league leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday, Guardiola emphasized that Silva remains integral to the team’s ambitions for the remainder of the season.
When asked if saying goodbye to Silva is the most difficult for him, Guardiola affirmed, “Absolutely. When it comes to players like him, and there have been many departures in recent years, part of myself is also leaving.”
“Imagining this club without him is tough. He has made a tremendous impact during his nine years here and has been extraordinarily important.”
“I hope we can reciprocate in his final month. He’ll indeed assist us, as he’s a special player, and he deserves the best.
“Together, we have celebrated 19 titles, and we’re aiming for two more as we push forward. We are determined to start strong and give it our all.”
During his time at City, Silva has netted 76 goals and provided 77 assists in 451 matches. He will join Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gündogan, Éderson, and Kevin de Bruyne as long-serving players who have parted ways with the club in the last year.
Players like Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders joined last summer, while Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi were signed in January, with Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov now becoming regulars in the first team.
Guardiola dismissed claims that their squad is more experienced than Arsenal going into the title race, as the Gunners’ lead could shrink to three points if they lose, with City holding a game in hand.
“Ederson, Kevin, Gundo, Kyle, and Manuel [Akanji, currently on loan at Inter Milan], along with several key players who contributed significantly here, are no longer with us,” Guardiola noted.
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“Many of the players are newcomers; we’ll see how they fare. For instance, Cherki has yet to win the Premier League, so we don’t know how he’ll perform in this situation.
“Khusanov is also new to the team. Nico is in his first real season here, Antoine joined just a month ago, and Marc Guehi is also fairly recent.”
“A lot of players will be competing who might be on the verge of winning their first Premier League title, and it’s uncertain how they’ll respond. There are numerous uncontrollable factors.”
Despite this, Guardiola hopes for a positive response from his players as they seek to solidify their chances of clinching the league title for the fifth time in six years.
“We thrive under pressure,” Guardiola stated. “To perform well against that team, they must recognize that if we don’t win, it’s all over. They understand this; we discuss it openly.”