LONDON • With an FA Cup semi-final tie against Brighton just three days later, Pep Guardiola must decide how best to shuffle his star-studded Manchester City line-up as they host struggling Cardiff in the Premier League today.
But, despite the embarrassment of riches City possess, one player has remained an almost automatic selection.
Bernardo Silva has appeared in 30 of their 31 league games - starting in 26 - with only goalkeeper Ederson turning out more times for the first XI.
While City forward Raheem Sterling and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk appear to be the front runners to scoop the Player of the Year honours this season, the Portugal midfielder has also made a compelling case to be considered.
Guardiola believes that the form of Silva, who has been a model of consistency all season, "is a consequence of the way he accepts his role".
The Spaniard added: "He works so hard and the rewards are there. Right now, with the way he plays, I cannot do anything else but put him on the pitch and let him play.
"He's so important for us. What he's done for us is the best."
ROLE MODEL
He works so hard and the rewards are there. Right now, with the way he plays, I cannot do anything else but put him on the pitch and let him play.
PEP GUARDIOLA, Manchester City manager, on the impressive contributions Bernardo Silva has made to the team.
ALL FOR ONE
It's most important for the team to keep winning. If it's me scoring or Kun (Sergio Aguero) or Raz (Sterling) or Leroy (Sane) or Riyad (Mahrez), it doesn't really matter.
BERNARDO SILVA, City midfielder, on playing as a team.
Despite having already equalled his personal best of six league goals with seven matches to play, the 24-year-old Silva is not gunning for individual records as "what matters is three points".
Ahead of the game against the Bluebirds, he said: "It's most important for the team to keep winning. If it's me scoring or Kun (Sergio Aguero) or Raz (Sterling) or Leroy (Sane) or Riyad (Mahrez), it doesn't really matter."
However, his manager will certainly need him to be at his creative best after Aguero, the league's top scorer on 19 goals, was ruled out of the meeting with Neil Warnock's men.
Admitting that he "will (have to) see the evolution of the next few days" to determine if the Argentina striker will be fit to travel to Wembley to take on the Seagulls, Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference yesterday: "He didn't train last two days, he is not able to play.
"Aguero and Fabian Delph (are the only ones who are injured). The others are quite well."
The 48-year-old also urged his players to keep their eyes on the remaining prizes, with City still on track for an unprecedented quadruple, although "beating Cardiff is our main target".
He added: "No one said it would be easy. We know it. Everyone is excited about the next weeks, but we also know we can lose everything. It's not complicated. It's amazing to have this opportunity, to be there.
"I saw how good Arsenal are playing (against Newcastle). We have an incredible distance (from them) because we have done so well.
"Then we go to Wembley and we want to win a trophy I have never won, the oldest one."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MAN CITY V CARDIFF
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 2.35am
Football: Choupo-Moting in goal-line howler as PSG throw away chance to wrap up French title PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain squandered the chance to clinch the French Ligue 1 title in record-equalling time on Sunday (April 7) after a 2-2 draw at home to Strasbourg, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's incredible miss from on the goal line costing
Latest Football News & Headlines, Top Stories Today - The
Europa League semi-finals confirmed: Arsenal vs Valencia, Chelsea vs Eintracht Frankfurt Arsenal vs Valencia; But Arsenal coach Unai Emery knows he must field his strongest XI if he wants
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
en.banglatribune.com/sports/news/31201/Sigurdsson-double-helps-Everton-sink-Cardiff
CARDIFF CITY 0 EVERTON 3. Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. Sigurdsson is now the leading Icelandic goalscorer in the Premier League, moving two clear of the 55 scored by former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Cardiff City vs. Everton - Football Match Report - February
Unai Emery insists Mesut Ozil still has a future at Arsenal despite leaving the midfielder out of the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham. Ozil watched from the stands as Arsenal lost 2
Mesut Ozil: Arsenal manager Unai Emery says midfielder has a
"The FA strongly condemns the scenes witnessed in Porto overnight," a spokesman said. "Anyone responsible for these disturbances cannot be seen as true England supporters and are not welcome in football. "They are an embarrassment to the team and the thousands of well-behaved fans who follow England in the right way.
Violent England fans an embarrassment to the team and not
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri. celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brighton and Hove
Chelsea Can Cope With Transfer Ban - Sarri | Sportnaija
Guardiola not worried about Man City players' social media use by BeSoccer @besoccer_com - 02 Feb 2019 0 672 Pep Guardiola is not concerned about the way his Manchester City players use social media, despite a post from Kyle Walker that appeared to mock Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
Guardiola not worried about Man City players' social media use
Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month's ceremony where he was given the award. Modric criticises Ronaldo
Apr 18, 2019 · The Champions League final this year will be the eighth in a row without Pep Guardiola, which perhaps should not feel as extraordinary as it does. This is, after all, knockout competition; odd
Guardiola: De Bruyne nearing Man City return
Mar 17, 2019 · Angel Di Maria grabbed two goals and an assist as PSG won its fifth league Di Maria brace seals 3-1 win for PSG over Marseille 2019 9:15 pm Neymar accused of rape by woman in Brazil,
Why PSG can beat Liverpool without Kylian Mbappé and Neymar
Newport County goalkeeper Joe Day made a swift exit after their FA Cup tie; Joe Day cut short FA Cup celebrations to see his pregnant wife celebrations short as his wife went into labour
Newport keeper skips FA Cup celebrations after wife goes into
Everton avoided a third consecutive Premier League home defeat as Kurt Zouma's header and a late goal by Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned them a flattering 2-0 victory over Bournemouth at a rainy Goodison Park on Sunday.
Soccer-Everton ride luck for 2-0 victory at home to
The deadline for Cardiff City to pay the first instalment of the £15m transfer fee for Emiliano Sala has been extended until Wednesday, 27 February. The Bluebirds were due to make the first
Nantes complain to Fifa that Cardiff have not paid Emiliano
Chelsea held 2-2 by Burnley, denting Champions League hopes
0 comments:
Post a Comment