City skipper Bernardo hails Guardiola's new generation
After a frustrating trophyless season last term, City delivered a performance that indicated they have a real chance of battling for the title of world champions in New Jersey on July 13.
"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," said Silva.
"That's good. That's a good sign for next season. Not only for this competition, but we want to build to the whole season, to the whole year. What happened last year was quite disappointing for all of us. We want to change, we want to be better. Today was a great performance and it shows that we can do it again," he said.
New arrivals Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki in midfield and Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back showed against Juve that they have the profiles to fit into the City mould immediately
Silva, the 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder was recently named the club's new skipper, charged with the job of integrating an exciting crop of new players into Guardiola's first team.
"It's probably one of the biggest honours of my career. I'm going to start my ninth season at the club. We went through a lot of fantastic moments and some disappointments as well. All that experience, I will try to pass it to the younger guys," he said, while insisting he was also part of a collective leadership.
"It's about each one of us being our own leader and helping the guy next to us in the dressing room. The same way that we helped the other guys, I'm counting on Ruben (Dias), on Rodri, on Erling (Haaland), on all the guys to help me. Because I will need that help to help the team achieve a lot of things and hopefully win titles," he said.
With Omar Marmoush and Savinho, who joined the team last year, having had chance to settle, there is a very fresh feel to this City side no longer with players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker.
"It's part of life. I'm going to talk about players that were so important for this club and left. Like Vincent (Kompany), like David Silva, Fernandinho, Kun Aguero, Yaya Toure. The club always finds new solutions, a new generation of players that has to keep putting this club in the right path up at the top.
"It's nice that we have new blood in the team. These guys have a lot of energy, have a lot of quality. It's up to us, the older ones to give them the right path to achieve the good things.And then for them to take our place," he said.
Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
an hour ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Chelsea's Fernandez flying ahead of Benfica reunion at Club World Cup
The 24-year-old set up two goals in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia which sent his team through to the last 16 and a date with the Portuguese giants in Charlotte this weekend. With England international Cole Palmer struggling for form, Fernandez has been Chelsea's key creative influence over the past few months. The Argentina star helped the Londoners qualify for the Champions League by claiming fourth place in the Premier League, as well as winning the Conference League in May. After Real Betis took the lead in the final, Fernandez inspired Chelsea's comeback by netting their first goal in an eventual 4-1 triumph in Poland. In 2025, Fernandez has scored and assisted a total of 14 goals, with Pedro Neto the next highest producer at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea with nine, and Palmer lagging behind with eight, along with youngster Tyrique George. As well as impressing against Esperance, Fernandez scored in Chelsea's 2-0 opening win in Atlanta against Los Angeles FC. "My goal against LAFC was my eighth of the season. That is a good number, it's good in one season and I am thankful to God for this. But for me, this is still just the beginning," Fernandez told Chelsea's website. "I'm always going to want more, I always want to do better. If I can do that, I will be helping the team. This is always on my mind. "It's why I work hard and try to improve, and with Enzo (Maresca), I am playing further forward, which has helped with my statistics. Next season, though, I want to score more goals and give more assists." Record signing With Chelsea's squad largely jumbled together in the last two years, Fernandez's arrival in February 2023 for a British transfer record fee of £107 million ($147 million) makes him one of the more experienced players. "This responsibility is something I enjoy," continued Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge on the back of his superb 2022 World Cup performances as Argentina won the trophy. "I try not to let it change how I perform on the pitch. For me, I must have the same mindset and keep the same attitude -- work hard, give my very best, be brave, and do everything I can to help the team." Later in 2023 Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for a deal which could rise to £115 million and this summer Liverpool's move for Florian Wirtz could cost them as much as £116 million, easing the pressure on Fernandez a little. Fernandez had played just 29 games for Benfica before Chelsea swooped, having arrived in Portugal from boyhood club River Plate. After an inconsistent start to life in London, a hernia problem derailed the second half of his 2023/24 season and then in July 2024 he was also criticised for singing an insulting song about France players with his Argentina team-mates. The midfielder has been linked with a possible departure from Chelsea but coach Maresca insisted the plan is for Fernandez to stay. "This season he has been very, very good. He can be even better next season starting from the first day," said Maresca this week. "So, nothing to say about (the) speculation. He is focused on us and that's the most important thing." Fernandez set up new Chelsea arrival Liam Delap for his first goal in the win over Esperance and gave the striker guidance for the months ahead. "I spoke to Enzo and he told me when he gets the ball to just run," explained Delap. "It was a great pass and luckily it went in." With Nicolas Jackson suspended, Delap is set to start once more against Benfica and he knows right now providing him the ammunition is one of the world's most in-form playmakers. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Al Hilal advance to Club World Cup round of 16 with 2-0 win over Pachuca
Marcus Leonardo also scored for Al Hilal, the only team outside Europe and the Americas to advance out of group play. Al Hilal will next face English club Manchester City on Monday in Orlando, Florida. Aldawsari, attacking from the left, scored with the ball bouncing off his right foot and soaring over the head of Pachuca goalie Sebastian Jurado to the right side of the goal. The game drew 14,147 to Geodis Park, which has a capacity of 30,000. Key Moment As Pachuca kept trying to keep the pace up, Leonardo scored his first goal of the tournament in the last minute of extra time, dribbling swiftly past Jurado and sending a left-footed shot in to secure Al Hilal's spot in the round of 16. Takeaways Al Hilal is the second team from Group H to move on, as Real Madrid clinched through a 3-0 victory against RB Salzburg. Pachuca ended the tournament winless. What They Said 'These are not easy games, and we are in the Club World Cup so every team that is here they have potential. It was a hard clean sheet and the win and we are through. That's the most important.' - Ruben Neves of Al Hilal 'Every player wants to score, my goal was ambitious, and scoring was the cherry on top.' - Salem Aldawsari of Al Hilal. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
10 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
City skipper Bernardo hails Guardiola's new generation
After a frustrating trophyless season last term, City delivered a performance that indicated they have a real chance of battling for the title of world champions in New Jersey on July 13. "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," said Silva. "That's good. That's a good sign for next season. Not only for this competition, but we want to build to the whole season, to the whole year. What happened last year was quite disappointing for all of us. We want to change, we want to be better. Today was a great performance and it shows that we can do it again," he said. New arrivals Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki in midfield and Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back showed against Juve that they have the profiles to fit into the City mould immediately Silva, the 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder was recently named the club's new skipper, charged with the job of integrating an exciting crop of new players into Guardiola's first team. "It's probably one of the biggest honours of my career. I'm going to start my ninth season at the club. We went through a lot of fantastic moments and some disappointments as well. All that experience, I will try to pass it to the younger guys," he said, while insisting he was also part of a collective leadership. "It's about each one of us being our own leader and helping the guy next to us in the dressing room. The same way that we helped the other guys, I'm counting on Ruben (Dias), on Rodri, on Erling (Haaland), on all the guys to help me. Because I will need that help to help the team achieve a lot of things and hopefully win titles," he said. With Omar Marmoush and Savinho, who joined the team last year, having had chance to settle, there is a very fresh feel to this City side no longer with players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker. "It's part of life. I'm going to talk about players that were so important for this club and left. Like Vincent (Kompany), like David Silva, Fernandinho, Kun Aguero, Yaya Toure. The club always finds new solutions, a new generation of players that has to keep putting this club in the right path up at the top. "It's nice that we have new blood in the team. These guys have a lot of energy, have a lot of quality. It's up to us, the older ones to give them the right path to achieve the good then for them to take our place," he said. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
