Illustrator Gabriel Foligno Photographer Matt McNulty - Manchester City
Bernardo Silva: The All-Purpose Midfielder
Manchester City are quite simply on fire. 20 wins in a row, a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, a spot in the Carabao Cup final and a two-goal first-leg lead in the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16 represent a…
Manchester City are quite simply on fire. 20 wins in a row, a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, a spot in the Carabao Cup final and a two-goal first-leg lead in the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16 represent a brilliant time at the club after a slow start to the season.
Many factors have been key to this turnaround - Pep Guardiola’s new system above all - but one of the most important ingredients in the recipe for such success is world-class players at the top of their game. City certainly have a lot of those right now, but if there was a top five being made, the Portuguese trio of João Cancelo, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva.
The full-back has revolutionised his role by playing in the inverted position from either flank, while the summer signing from Benfica has transformed the Manchester City backline from a lousy excuse for a defence to one of the best in the world.
Credits
Words
Neel Shelat