Bernardo Silva says City's improvement is ‘a good sign for next season'
The Premier League side produced one of their best displays for some time as they ran out 5-2 winners in Orlando to secure top spot in Group G.
After an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign, it was a result that indicated their recent frustrations could be behind them and underlined their credentials to win the tournament.
They will now return to the Camping World Stadium to face Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal for a place in the quarter-finals on Monday (Tuesday 2am UK).
Silva, the new City captain, said: 'We've always been potential winners in all competitions that we play.
'Obviously it's just one game but we're happy that the performance was the way it was.
'It shows that we're improving, we're coming back to the levels and to the standards that we got people used to at this club. That's good.
'That's a good sign for next season. It's not only for this competition, but we want to build to the whole season, to the whole year, because what happened last year was quite disappointing for all of us.
'We want to change, we want to be better. This was a great performance and it shows that we can do it again.'
City had gone into the game trailing Juventus on goals scored and needing to win to secure the theoretically easier route through the knockout stages.
What they produced rendered their frustration to score a seventh goal against Al Ain in their previous game irrelevant.
Jeremy Doku's early strike was cancelled out when Teun Koopmeiners pounced on an Ederson mistake but an own goal from Pierre Kalulu restored City's lead.
Erling Haaland – with his 300th career goal for club and country – added a third before Phil Foden and Savinho turned it into a rout. Dusan Vlahovic scored a late Juve consolation.
City were beaten 2-0 by Juve in the Champions League during their worst spell of form last season but the team, rejuvenated by several new arrivals since, now look a different proposition.
Silva said: 'We had a very good performance against a tough team. They showed that in the past, they beat us last season.
'We wanted to prove that what happened last season will not happen this season, hopefully.'
Silva was chosen as captain by Pep Guardiola after the City manager decided not to hold his usual squad vote this summer.
'It's probably one of the biggest honours of my career,' the Portuguese said. 'I'm going to start my ninth season at the club. All that experience, I will try to pass it to the younger guys.
'But the leadership in a team, it's not about one guy. It's about each one of us being our own leader and helping the guy next to us in the dressing room.
'I will need that help to help the team achieve a lot of things and hopefully win titles.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
26 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's Cardiff City news as Robertson gives three-word verdict and Bale would be 'a great fit'
Tonight's Cardiff City news as Robertson gives three-word verdict and Bale would be 'a great fit' The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium Alex Robertson with Joner Football (L) (Image: YouTube/Joner Football ) Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday, June 27. Alex Robertson's verdict on Cardiff stay Alex Robertson underwent extra training during the off-season in his native Australia, teaming up with new Portsmouth signing Adrian Segecic. Segecic's agent is Robertson's dad, Mark, and the Australians clearly have a close bond, undergoing some drills with Joner Football, a coach who has set up his own YouTube channel Down Under. When asked by the host about his stint at Cardiff City, Robertson, whose maiden year at the club unfortunately ended in relegation, simply replied: "Good, really good." He was more effusive in his praise of his old loan club Pompey, saying: "That season before I went on loan (to Portsmouth) was just enjoyable because I was playing with the (Man City) under-23 and training with the first team quite a lot. "And then when I went on loan I loved it - I loved Portsmouth." Article continues below Robertson is someone who new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy will know well from his time at Manchester City. Opening up about his time at City, he said that Phil Foden was the best trainer he'd experienced and Lionel Messi was the best player he'd played against. Bale takeover talk 'exciting' and 'a great fit' Former Premier League midfielder Lee Hendrie has described Gareth Bale's bid to buy Cardiff City as an "exciting" development that could help rejuvenate the club following years of stagnation. Bale is fronting a consortium that has approached current owner Vincent Tan with a proposal to take over the club. The Wales legend publicly confirmed he has serious ambitions to return his hometown team to the Premier League. Cardiff are currently preparing for life in League One after suffering relegation from the Championship at the end of last season. But Hendrie believes Bale's potential involvement offers a rare opportunity for a reset and a long-term vision for success. 'There's been lots of links with Gareth Bale, and he's come out publicly and revealed that he badly wants to help buy Cardiff City to take the Welsh side back to the Premier League,' Hendrie told Football League World. 'I think it's exciting, I really do. Gareth Bale, behind the scenes at the football club, and clearly passionate about where he wants to take it – that's something that should be looked at with a lot of purpose.' The former Aston Villa man believes Bale's high-profile backing and emotional connection to the Bluebirds could be just what the club needs after years of inconsistency and underachievement. 'It has been stood still for quite some time, and I think Gareth Bale quite openly says he wants to take the club to a level where it should be, which is quality to hear,' Hendrie added. 'He's obviously looked at this in depth and feels there's bags of potential, which there is at a football club of that status. I'm sure Cardiff fans will be absolutely relishing the fact of that, and I think this would be a new journey for Bale and Cardiff – I think it would be a great fit.' Bale, 35, retired from football in 2023 after a stellar career that included five Champions League titles with Real Madrid and over 100 caps for Wales. He has made no secret of his desire to remain involved in the game and to invest in Welsh football. Cardiff City have yet to comment publicly on the takeover speculation. Reindorf raring to go at Newport County Newport County have completed the signing of Cardiff City forward Michael Reindorf on a season-long loan. The 20-year-old striker joins the Exiles as they prepare for the upcoming League Two campaign, and has already linked up with Dave Hughes' squad during pre-season. Reindorf, who has come through the youth systems at West Ham, Norwich City and most recently Cardiff, spent part of last season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers. Now, he's aiming to take the next step in his development with regular minutes at Rodney Parade. 'Every club has given me something different,' said Reindorf. 'I started at West Ham, moved to Norwich, then Cardiff, and had my loan at Bristol Rovers. All of those experiences have helped me grow and learn. Now I want to take that into this next step. 'Everything was really positive. The manager is very big on standards and creating a good environment – that really stood out to me. That's something I'm looking forward to being a part of. 'I want to help the team push for the top end of the table. Personally, I want to score as many goals as possible – that's my job as a striker.' Article continues below Manager Dave Hughes, the Bluebirds' former head of academy, said he was delighted to bring Reindorf into the squad. 'He's a really good addition to what we already have,' Hughes said. 'He has great energy and a great ability to threaten space in behind. I'd also like to thank Cardiff City for trusting us to work with their young player and to help him develop, while understanding our responsibility to deliver a successful team on a consistent basis.'
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
More squad depth needed at Newcastle
Despite the enormous resources of their Saudi owners, Newcastle's ambitions have been hamstrung by profit and sustainability regulations. Their only signing so far this summer has been 18-year-old winger Antonio Cordero, who has joined on a free after spending last season in the Spanish second tier with for the Champions League means there is a little more room in the Magpies finances, which is just as well since new blood is needed to cope with the increased workload. Last season, Newcastle used just 24 players in the Premier League, the joint second lowest total in the top flight. When they last competed in Europe in 2023-24, injuries and fatigue eventually caught up with them and a run of six defeats in seven league games over the winter torpedoed their season. With Sven Botman only able to start 21 top-flight matches in the past two years, a new centre-back may be a priority. Last summer, Crystal Palace rebuffed a move move for Marc Guehi, but he is entering the final 12 months of his contract so could be available for a sensible price. If they are beaten to the punch by Liverpool, Atalanta's 21-year-old Giorgio Scalvini has been mooted as an alternative. The 6ft 4in tall Italy international is highly rated but has barely played in the last year because of knee and shoulder injuries, so would represent a calculated Murphy enjoyed an outstanding campaign in 2024-25, with his tally of 12 Premier League assists bettered only by Mohamed Salah, but an additional option is required on the right wing.
Reuters
40 minutes ago
- Reuters
Everton captain Coleman signs one-year contact extension
June 27 (Reuters) - Everton skipper Seamus Coleman has signed a one-year contract extension, saying on Friday that the chance to lead the club into their new stadium was a key reason to continue. The 36-year-old Ireland international signed the deal just three days before his previous contract expired. He was forced off in the first half of Everton's final game at Goodison Park last month with a thigh injury but is expected to be fit in time for next season. "Thanks to the hard work of many people, we've been able to get into our magnificent new stadium and pave the way for a brighter future under ambitious new owners (Friedkin Group), which I want to be part of," Coleman said in a statement. Coleman joined the Merseyside club from Sligo Rovers in 2009 during David Moyes' first spell as manager. Moyes joined for a second spell in January, guiding Everton to a 13th-place finish. "In David Moyes, we have the perfect manager to lead us into a new era. He showed his abilities once again with the way he had us playing after returning last season. "As the man who brought me to Everton, I can't speak highly enough of him. He gets this football club, the standards required every day, and what it means to play for Everton." Coleman holds the club record for most Premier League appearances (369) and is joint 12th on Everton's all-time list with 428 matches in all competitions, just five behind Dixie Dean and Leon Osman. "This could be a period of real change at the Club and I want somebody who can help deliver the messages of what it means to be an Everton footballer. Seamus has always done that and I know he will continue to do so as we move into a new era," Moyes said. Everton begin their league campaign away at Leeds United on Aug. 18.
