Manchester City do not look to be hitting their usual standards this season and Bernardo Silva has explained why.
For many years, Manchester City were able to hold on to lots of their most important players and this is why they won so many competitions.
The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and David Silva were at the club for some time, meaning each season Man City could keep building on their successes.
However, some big names had departed the Etihad Stadium in recent times and this seems to have had an effect on Pep Guardiola’s team. At least, that is what Bernardo Silva believes.
Manchester City are struggling due to a high squad turnover
According to the Man City captain, his side’s struggles are because there have been so many players coming and going.
Silva was able to play alongside the same world class member of City’s squad for so long, but now there are players who are still finding their feet in the blue side of Manchester.
Speaking in Pep Guardiola’s pre-match press conference ahead of the Real Madrid second leg tie, Silva told the media: “The obvious answer is this is a transition,” when asked about why Man City are not reaching their levels of the past.
“If you look at the Champions League final when we won the treble, that team and the team now four or five players are left in two years and a half. It is a lot of change. To have that much is never easy.”
This is not a problem Silva has put down to the standard of new players coming in. Rather, it is that they need time to understand the style of their teammates.
“It is not about the talent or quality, it is about the players getting to know each other better and what works better,” he continued.
“I don’t know the right answer. I do believe that having so many different players in such a short term doesn’t help.
I have been here nine years, three years ago when I played with [Ilkay] Gundogan or Kevin [De Bruyne] or Rodri or Kyle [Walker], we knew what each other player wanted because we played together so many years. No excuses because we should have done much better.”
Man City have added a lot of quality to their squad this season
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were two very good signings made by Man City in the mid-season transfer window and last summer also saw the arrival of some fine players.
There are certain positions where City could use a bit more depth, but the quality of their first-team is undeniable.
It may take time for the newer players to settle in and find their place in the side and it could be that a new manager turns out to be the leader who gets them firing.
Eventually, Man City will begin to click, which will hopefully be seen after the opportunity to regroup in the summer.
