But if Silva ends the season, and potentially his City career, with his hands on the trophy, his own sense of urgency may be one of the reasons. Consider Silva’s reaction to the equalizer at Anfield; not celebrating, but recovering the ball from the net and running back to the halfway line. “Bernardo gave a signal to the whole club and the fans: let’s do it,” said Erling Haaland. “I wanted the second goal.” He got it too, his pass freeing up Matheus Nunes, who was brought down for a penalty that Haaland converted.
A victory was evidence of Silva’s drive. His goal also had another meaning: in the 84th minute of City’s 25th Premier League match, it was their first of the top-flight season. He scored when it mattered. He also scored the goal of a second striker, taking advantage of a header from a great center forward or a midfielder who collided with the area; However, in his mid-thirties, Silva operates deeper than before. It was the first time all season that he shot so close to the goal.
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But he did what the situation demanded. For this reason, more than for his ability with the ball, Guardiola loves him. “The team comes first,” he explained. “Guided by our incredible player, one of the best players I have coached, our captain Bernardo. We follow him. I follow him too. Because when a player always puts the team before him and does things by his own example, everyone follows him.”
That’s why Silva is their chosen captain. The Portuguese was the man who never gave up during the torrid times of last season. Guardiola used to let his players vote for the captain but seemed to think democracy had failed when vote-seeking Kyle Walker left City last winter. Walker and Guardiola always felt like an odd couple. Silva is more of a soul mate for the Catalan.
Part of this is a recognition of his technical talent. In 2023-24, when Phil Foden scored 27 goals, Guardiola would prefer Rodri or Silva to be named Footballer of the Year. He also wished Silva had won the individual awards in 2018-19, when Virgil van Dijk was celebrated instead.
That season produced an epic title run and another masterclass from Silva against Liverpool. City beat them 2-1 in January 2019, a game that was notable for a small number and a large number. John Stones made a brilliant clearance when the ball was 11mm from crossing the line. Silva ran 13.7 km, a wonderful combination of skill and graft. It was arguably his best performance in a City shirt.
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Seven years later, it has less dynamism. In fact, last season he was revealed to have the slowest top speed of any Premier League outfield player. But he can still lunge and move away from his opponents; he still continues. Against Liverpool, Silva covered 12.84 kilometers. It was all the more surprising because, four days earlier, Guardiola had described it as an “incredible doubt.” He also said that City needed big personalities at Anfield. Two of them have enormous physiques, Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma, and both were crucial.
Silva is the little man with a big heart. When he was next to Van Dijk before kick-off or Haaland in the post-match interviews, he illustrated how tiny he is. But he is a big-match player, with the consistency that Guardiola likes and the ability to improve his game on key occasions.
Silva (left) mixes silk with steel in Guardiola’s team (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Silva has never been defined by goals and his altruism means he could have achieved more. But he has 75 in 441 games for City, an average of one every six. However, it can be more prolific at certain stages. In 21 games against Liverpool, he has four goals and four assists. He is a specialist in the Manchester derby, with four goals and seven assists in 21 appearances. He has faced Real Madrid 11 times and has scored four goals. When these games end, it is often with the feeling that Silva has been the standout person on the field.
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“He is one of the best players I have trained with,” said Guardiola, who has spent almost two decades coaching high-level soccer players. “He is the perfect captain. It is a joy for me as a coach to have him. His contribution is enormous and he is one of the legends of this club.”
No wonder he said he wants Silva to stay “forever.” It is tinged with the sense that he won’t, that a man who has long wanted to trade Mancun’s climate for a Mediterranean lifestyle may be wrong. But when Silva leaves, he may yet be the latest member of a select group, joining Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Walker as City’s Premier League-winning captains.