Pep Guardiola struck an emotional tone ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal, saying Bernardo Silva’s departure at the end of the season will be a major loss for the club on and off the pitch.
The City manager described the Portuguese midfielder as a special figure within the project and said that part of him will leave with Bernardo after so many years together at the club.
On the Arsenal game, Guardiola stressed that the fixture is a decisive point in the Premier League title race, warning that any further setback would make the job much harder in the closing weeks.
According to remarks reported before the match, the Spanish coach suggested that if City lose, he will shake hands with Mikel Arteta and then hope Arsenal drop points later, underlining how difficult the title battle would become after defeat.
The game therefore carries extra weight for City, both in the title race and in the context of saying goodbye to one of the team’s most important players.