Bernardo Silva reveals the secret change powering Man City’s unstoppable streak and names shock teammate as Pep Guardiola’s game-changer

Manchester City’s recent resurgence has been credited to a renewed focus on defensive discipline, as highlighted by Bernardo Silva. The club has kept six clean sheets in a nine-game unbeaten stretch, narrowing the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and cementing their place in the Champions League’s last eight.

According to Silva, the return to defensive fundamentals has been crucial. He noted, “We’ve found a bit more of our rhythm. We found the stability at the back. That gives the freedom for the guys at front to play in a different way.” He emphasized, “That’s what we didn’t have for a long time last season, and that’s what we’re getting back to, having that stability.”

The reintroduction of John Stones has played a significant role in City’s improvement. Stones, who missed a substantial part of last season with injury, has featured in City’s recent European fixtures, notably delivering a commanding performance in Villarreal where he controlled the midfield. Stones admitted during the Club World Cup that thoughts of retirement had crossed his mind due to his prolonged absence with a hamstring injury.

Silva praised Stones’ unique qualities, stating, “John gives us something that is difficult to find in terms of a central defender. It’s my ninth season at Man City and when John is fit, the team always plays much better. It’s not a coincidence. He’s a special player. He just needs to take care of his body and make sure that he’s available. Because I’m pretty sure that if he’s available, he’s going to be really important for us.”

Defensively, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias have established themselves as Guardiola’s preferred centre-back pairing, with Nico O’Reilly stepping in effectively at left back due to Rayan Ait-Nouri’s absence. On the right, Matheus Nunes’ performances have shown steady improvement, adding further stability.

Manchester City’s last three visits to Aston Villa have resulted in two defeats and a draw. The memory of Silva’s spectacular volley in a 2021 victory remains, but the team is aware the record needs to be corrected if they are to sustain their current momentum. Villa, meanwhile, suffered an unexpected setback with a Europa League defeat to Go Ahead Eagles.

Despite City’s positive run, Silva remains cautious. “We’re happy with the momentum, but (we’ve) still a long way to go,” he said. “It’s just one month that we were quite good. If we want to be successful this season, we need to keep it that way for much longer than just one month.”