Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dubbed Bernardo Silva one of the best players he has ever seen after the Portuguese midfielder scored the first two goals in their 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid to send them to the Champions League final.
Welcoming the reigning European champions to the Etihad for the second leg of the semi-final, with the tie finely poised at 1-1, the return fixture was never really a contest.
City flew out of the blocks, and could have easily been out of sight in the first half were in not for two heroic saves from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
But, ever the man for big occasions, Bernardo Silva stole the show, netting twice in the opening half an hour to give City a comfortable lead.
Bernardo Silva is leading Man City to Istanbul!! 🔥
The Portuguese star bags his second of the night! 🤩#UCL pic.twitter.com/k3OxPucX4b
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 17, 2023
It was the beginning of a rout, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Manuel Akanji enough to complete a 5-1 aggregate thrashing of the side who knocked City out last season on their way to lifting the trophy, and set up a final with Italian side Inter Milan in Istanbul.
And, speaking after the game, Guardiola was full of praise for the 28-year-old.
Often in and out of the side (he has started just 23 Premier League games this season), Silva’s versatility and ability to press from an attacking position often makes him a regular in big games for Guardiola, whether that be at left-back as he showed against Arsenal earlier in the season, or further forward where he excelled against the European Champions.
