2 hours ago
2
Bernardo Silva came in for criticism for his attacking contribution on Wednesday, but Manchester City's record when he plays is excellent.
Pep Guardiola referred to Bernardo Silva as a grandad last week and more Manchester City fans are increasingly viewing the captain as a crutch holding up their attacking play.
Silva was stationed out on the right wing again for the 2-2 draw with Monaco, and it feels notable this season that attacks down that side just do not have the same verve when that is the case. It isn't Silva's fault, but he is probably better off in a more defensive role if he is to be used and in matches where City don't finish their chances - such as Wednesday night - the scrutiny on what Silva offers in the final third increases.
Not everything is as it seems though. Silva may have obvious limitations in that role but the team have had serious problems without him this season.
When Silva has been on the pitch, the Blues have an aggregate score of 12-2. That includes the recent run against United, Napoli, and Arsenal, but he also avoided the collapses against Tottenham and Brighton.
Spurs felt particularly telling. After a 4-0 win over Wolves on the opening weekend Rayan Cherki was rewarded with a start instead of Silva but the balance was off and the Blues were 2-0 down by the time Guardiola summoned his skipper.
You could argue that the tie had already turned a week later at Brighton for another of the worst team performances, but they had actually played well in the first hour and it was 1-1 when Silva went off. Without Silva, City's record in the Premier League and Champions League is four goals scored and four goals conceded.
A case could be made that a better attacking player in Silva's role would have done better, yet Cherki and Omar Marmoush have been injured and Savinho and Oscar Bobb haven't really taken their chances when given the opportunity. Silva could also be pushed inside, but then Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden are much better in the middle and nobody has been knocking on the door to challenge for their place in the team either.
Silva doesn't have Jeremy Doku's stepovers or Foden's pace to unlock defences, and it will always feel like he is - to use a word that has followed Arsenal around recently - a handbrake in the team or a safety mechanism for Guardiola to ensure protection for the control and possession that he wants.
But is that a bad thing? The manager does not want to turn City into a team built solely for the counter-attack and Silva is one of the best players for recycling balls and controlling tempo.
Then there's the leadership he brings. Is it a coincidence that the team have never gone behind with Silva on the pitch this season when he sets the standard with his commitment and captaincy?
Possibly, and it is hard to give Silva all the credit for their significantly better record with him than without him given the way goal machine Erling Haaland has started the season. He probably deserves more than he is currently getting though because it is hard to argue against Silva's contributions enabling the team to be better.
That is an underrated value, and especially when there are no teammates making a compelling case at the moment that they can make a better job. Silva will never be an exciting right winger, but he is currently helping to provide the stability that brings wins.
---
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester City coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Talking City podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.
English (US) ·