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Bernardo Silva starred for Monaco on the only other occasion they have played Manchester City. He's back with the Blues for tonight's Champions League tie.
Bernardo Silva collected the ball and advanced, the Etihad crowd were impressed. He evaded Leroy Sane and cheekily pushed the ball through the legs of Yaya Toure. The midfield maestro then played in Falcao to get a shot away.
It was 2017 and Bernardo was in the red and white of Monaco, in Manchester for a Champions League last 16 clash. In a thrilling contest, Monaco came from behind to lead 2-1 and then 3-2, before conceding three goals in the final 20 minutes.
That looked to have City in command heading into the return leg but Monaco, with Bernardo to the fore, claimed a 3-1 win to progress on away goals.
Now, eight-and-a-half years on, Bernardo is back in the place he called home for three years for the first meeting between the sides since that thrilling knockout match.
The 31-year-old breaks into a wide smile when asked to reflect on that encounter nearly a decade ago.
"Great memories," he said. "For us at the time it was unbelievable to beat a team like Man City. We did really well in all competitions. We reached the semi finals of the Champions League. It was a young team showing themselves to the world."
Bernardo certainly caught the attention of City boss Guardiola. The Blues chief spoke to him after the game while the pair were conducting media interviews, and in the days and weeks that followed the player got a call from his agent reiterating how impressed City had been by his performances. Within weeks of that campaign ending, Silva was back in Manchester as a City player.
“Those two matches changed the course of my career,” he said, when reflecting on his move while speaking to City's in-house media.
“I saw Pep outside at the mixed zone where we were both giving interviews and he came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations on the match’.
“I don’t remember the exact words but I remember him telling me that he was really impressed.
“I also remember that the day after my agent called me and said they were really impressed. I said wow!
“It was that tie that made me want to play in the Premier League and at the end of the season, City asked me if I wanted to come and so it was a dream come true – and it was an easy answer.”
Bernardo has now made more than 400 appearances for City and this summer took on the captain's armband. It will be a special evening if, as expected, he leads the Blues out at his former club.
"It feels great to be back, I am really happy to be here," he said.
Guardiola will be happy that for this Monaco meeting, he will watch Bernardo in blue.
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