Bernardo Silva gives brutally honest response to why Man City needed the international break

Add as preferred source on Google

Pep Guardiola will be hoping that after the international break, Manchester have a fully-fit squad to tackle their forthcoming run of tricky fixtures.

Seven Manchester City players headed to international duty, with big names like Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish handed the time to return to full fitness.

After Portugal’s latest 5-1 thrashing of Poland that booked their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Bernardo Silva returned to Manchester City as well.

Pep Guardiola will be determined to ensure that his City side finally look like the real deal in Rodri’s absence when they host Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Heading to Anfield the week after, it is essential for Manchester City to head into the much-awaited contest while having not dropped further points and giving a Liverpool an even bigger lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Otherwise, Bernardo Silva and Co could risk handing Arne Slot’s side a massive advantage in the title race.

• READ MORE: Man City Premier League fixture list for 2024/25 season in full

Bernardo Silva on Man City’s need for the international break

In August, City captain Kyle Walker told Sky Sports how much he dreams of winning five successive league titles.

“It’s [the hunger] got be there. Four in a row, no one’s ever done it. No one’s ever done five in a row. So, that should be the desire.”

However, having lost four games in a row after their latest 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion, the Premier League winners’ look the most vulnerable they have in recent years.

Speaking to O Jogo, Bernardo explained why the international break came at the right time for Manchester City.

The 30-year-old revealed: “This break has been very beneficial for us. Let’s not deny it, it was a difficult time for our team.”

“It had never happened to me in my career. At City, I can’t even remember losing two games in a row.”

“It’s done us good because there are players who will be back from injury and we have fresh heads to get back to our maximum level at this stage of the season.”

After his side’s 4-1 loss at the hands of Sporting CP, Bernardo admitted City “are in a dark place” in the aftermath of the result.

Pep Guardiola disagreed with Bernardo and came out fighting, backing his team’s dominant performance in the first-half as opposed to when they were outplayed for the most part in their 2-1 defeat against AFC Bournemouth.

Guardiola said ‘everyone needs’ the international break at Man City

However, where Guardiola agreed with Bernardo is in his admission that the international break was necessary for his Sky Blues side after their loss to Brighton.

The Catalan said: “I think everybody needs it, yeah. I think it will be good for all of us, for the players, for ourselves but especially, Ruben [Dias] comes back and hopefully John Stones comes back and hopefully, the other players.”

It seems like even within the Etihad Stadium, there was an acceptance that a break was necessary for the squad.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	11	9	1	1	21	6	15	28
2	Man CityManchester City	11	7	2	2	22	13	9	23
3	ChelseaChelsea	11	5	4	2	21	13	8	19
4	ArsenalArsenal	11	5	4	2	18	12	6	19
5	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	11	5	4	2	15	10	5	19
6	BrightonBrighton	11	5	4	2	19	15	4	19

As Bernardo claimed, Manchester City’s fitness woes could ease and there could be a renewed sense of energy after the international break.

After the return of club football, the next international break is not scheduled until March next year.

With that being the case, Manchester City’s players will have to be as physically and mentally ready as possible across all competitions to be able to win major silverware again.

The international break could well prove to be a blessing in disguise for City.