No-one has played more games under Pep Guardiola than Bernardo Silva. Silva has been picked more than 400 times by Manchester City manager Guardiola, who signed the Portugal midfielder in 2017. They have won six Premier League titles together, while Silva has also won the Nations League title twice. Silva sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about what it is like to play under Guardiola, his standout matches, and his dream of winning the World Cup.
Pep Guardiola has once again shown his class both on and off the pitch, earning praise for his post-match gesture toward Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes following Manchester City's 2-1 Champions League victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night. The Premier League giants secured a crucial away win thanks to goals from Nico O'Reilly and Erling Haaland. But one of the night's most talked-about moments came after the final whistle, when Guardiola approached Rodrygo for a brief but heartfelt conversation. Speaking to reporters after the match, Guardiola revealed what he told the Brazilian forward, as reported by Fabrizio Romano: I went to Rodrygo and I told him, What a player you are he's really unbelievable.'
Enzo Maresca, currently in charge of the team at Chelsea, worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City in their historic treble-winning 2022/23 season.
"I feel embarrassed, ashamed when I see it," Guardiola said. "I don't like it. I apologised after one second to the cameraman. "I am who I am. After 1,000 games I'm not a perfect person, I make huge mistakes. It's not about that. What is for sure, I defend any team and my club, that's for sure. The reason why is I want to defend my team and my club."
Pep Guardiola, still regarded as one of the most influential figures in Barcelona's modern history, has quietly extinguished one of the most persistent fantasies held by many Blaugrana supporters. While the Manchester City manager continues to be admired in Catalonia for everything he achieved as both a player and a coach, he has now addressed, and dismissed the possibility of becoming FC Barcelona's president in the future.
We spend a lot of time together, we go through the analysis of opposition and we talk a lot. He's given me a real big insight into the game, but he did when I was at Burnley with him as well. His experience at the level, where he's been and who he's been with. He's been a huge asset and there's a part of me that [thinks] he deserves this moment.
Just want to say thank you to the players, backroom staff to give me that present. Proud to do it here in Manchester with my City. "Now rest and come back with the energy. "I think my period at Barcelona B is the foundation for many things. To realise myself that I was able to do it and learn a lot.
Pep Guardiola praised Jeremy Doku and thanked Manchester City for giving him the incredible present of a 3-0 victory over Liverpool in his 1,000th match as a manager. First-half goals from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez and an outstanding 20-yard individual Doku effort after the break took City to within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. As half-time neared, Virgil van Dijk's header was ruled out.
I think we won't take a risk ahead of the international break. We have to find the moment he feels strong and fit to sustain the actions in the game properly. Still we are in November, and the best of the season is ahead of us and we need him.
Pep! I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. Your deep love and passion for the game has always been so evident and you should be very proud of the indelible impact you continue to have across the global game. Reaching 1,000 matches and achieving such longevity in football is a landmark that can never be underestimated and, to continue to deliver league, Champions League and domestic cup titles in three of Europe's most competitive leagues is outstanding.
As the new world dawns and revolution rumbles across the horizon, there will always be those who remain resistant, who cling defiantly to the old ways. For years Pep Guardiola was a revolutionary. Very few people in history have had such an influence on how football is played, but the passage of time is inevitable. Nobody can stand in the vanguard of development for ever: yesterday's rebel is today's reactionary.
