Kevin De Bruyne reminded the world why he remains one of Manchester City’s go-to men as he scored the one and only goal in their crucial 1-0 victory against Wolves on Friday.
So much so that Alan Shearer feels De Bruyne remains top-class and remains well-capable of playing for a side in the Premier League’s top six despite being 33.
However, as Manchester City beat Wolves to take another important step towards Champions League qualification, several players stood out.
Bernardo Silva, who won the ball for De Bruyne’s goal against Wolves and Jeremy Doku, who assisted his countryman’s strike were two players who certainly impressed.
Bernardo Silva was Man City’s best player vs Wolves
But Bernardo Silva was most certainly Manchester City’s standout performer against Wolves — with Kevin De Bruyne looking bright but not influencing proceedings on the whole as much as his teammate.
Bernardo was incredible against Aston Villa much like he was against Wolves and perhaps a reason behind his return to form for Manchester City is because Pep Guardiola has tasked him to play in a double pivot.
No longer does Bernardo, who cost Manchester City £43 million have to play as an advanced midfielder or out wide — two positions that do not suit his game at all — with Guardiola deploying him in both roles earlier this season.
During his latest heroics at the Etihad Stadium, the Portuguese international showed why a deeper midfield role suits him to a tee — picking up the ball in the first phase and easing City’s build-up due to his sublime press-resistance, crunching into tackles for fun and providing a degree of control to the side.
Bernardo especially thrived against Wolves when tasked defensively, as he was as his industrious best in a Manchester City shirt — whether it was regaining possession in a lead-up to De Bruyne’s strike or even making important clearances as he did in the dying embers of the contest from the visitors’ corner kick.
An area where the 30-year-old looked back to his absolute best were in terms of his passing range, which has considerably improved in recent weeks as the six-time Premier League winner made a concerted effort to switch the ball to Jeremy Doku in acres of space.
While Bernardo’s footwork was also reminiscent of the days when he was in his pomp, dancing past a number of Wolves players with ease on a few instances as well as he well and truly looks re-energised.
Bernardo Silva has busted one Man City myth recently
Bernardo candidly discussed Manchester City’s ageing squad by rubbishing the fact that his side had too many old players and in fairness to the decorated maestro’s display against Wolves and in recent weeks, he may have a point.
Bernardo said: “Tell me, which player? Give me names. That’s people that don’t understand the game.”
“I’m 30, [Mateo] Kovacic is 30. You’re not talking about guys that are 36. We have six or four bad months and out of nowhere we’re old, not good enough. In the last eight seasons we’ve won six Premier Leagues and for four bad months we’re old? I’m asking you. You asked me the question so I answered.”
Bernardo concluded: “That’s people that don’t understand the game, never played the game and probably don’t understand a thing about football.”
