Guardiola praised Bernardo Silva as a leader who always steps up in adversity.

Manchester City, nicknamed "The Blues," will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, nicknamed "The Blues," in the 32nd round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Manager Pep Guardiola stated that appointing Bernardo Silva as captain was the best decision he made this season, praising the midfielder for always stepping up when the team faces adversity.

With De Bruyne's departure, 34-year-old Bernardo Silva has been appointed as Manchester City's new captain. So far this season, Bernardo Silva has contributed two goals and four assists for Manchester City in the Premier League, and one goal in the Champions League.

Manchester City currently sits second in the Premier League table with 61 points, nine points behind leaders Arsenal who have played two games more. Furthermore, thanks to Haaland's hat-trick and Semenho's goal, Manchester City secured a 4-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, continuing their title chase.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said, "Appointing Bernardo Silva as captain was the best decision I made this season. Previous captains were also very good, so I'm not saying he's better than them. For most of the captains I've coached, as a manager, you have to consider what the team really needs right now, not whether everything goes as planned."

"When things are going well, the team always comes first, but when things are going badly, you can see whether a person is willing to put the team before themselves, even when things are not going their way. Not everyone can do that, but Bernardo Silva was the best example last season."

Guardiola shared, "Last season was very difficult, and I can understand why, but he was always there. I know him very well over the past nine years, and I believe all the managers who have coached him would say the same thing to me. You will like him because he is a competitive man with a burning heart, and he always steps up in the most difficult times."

“I have said many times that in big games, it’s not about how well you perform, but about whether a player can step up and show his true self. He has had these qualities from the first day he joined the team.”

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