Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has heaped praise on the club’s emerging talents following their emphatic 5-2 win over Juventus in their final Club World Cup group stage match on Thursday, calling it a strong sign of the team’s resurgence after a disappointing previous season.
Silva, who recently took over the captain’s armband, described the performance as a statement of intent and a glimpse of what fans can expect as City eyes the Club World Cup title on July 13.
“It’s just one game, but we’re happy with the way we played,” said Silva. “It shows that we’re improving and returning to the standards people expect at this club. What happened last year was disappointing, and we want to change that. Today was a great performance, and it shows we can do it again.”
City’s new-look squad featured impressive performances from recent signings Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, all of whom slotted seamlessly into Pep Guardiola’s dynamic system. With Omar Marmoush and Savinho also showing maturity after settling in, the team has a rejuvenated feel despite the departures of veterans like Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker.
Acknowledging the passing of the torch, Silva said, “It’s part of life. Legends like Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Kun Aguero, and Yaya Toure all left, and new players came in. The club always finds solutions. Now it’s our turn to guide the next generation.”
The 30-year-old Portuguese international, entering his ninth season at the club, called the captaincy “one of the biggest honours” of his career and underscored the importance of collective leadership.
“It’s about everyone being a leader. I’ll rely on Ruben [Dias], Rodri, Erling [Haaland], and others to help steer the group,” he said. “These young guys have energy and quality. It’s our job to lead them, and eventually, they’ll take our place.”
City’s dominant display not only sends a warning to rivals in the tournament but also hints at a squad ready to reclaim its place at the top of global football.
Written By Rodney Mbua
