Following Manchester City’s shocking 2-1 defeat to local rivals Manchester United, midfielder Bernardo Silva delivered a harsh criticism of his teammates, openly blaming their poor decisions and performance for the loss. The game, which saw City initially take the lead through a goal from defender Josko Gvardiol, took a dramatic turn as United scored twice in quick succession through Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo, clinching the victory.
This loss marks a concerning trend for City, who have now secured just one win in their last 11 matches across all competitions. The defeat has left the Premier League champions with the fewest points per game of any team in the league since the start of November.
In the aftermath of the loss, Silva did not hold back when speaking to Sky Sports. He described the loss as “stupid” and criticized the team for failing to manage the game, particularly in the final moments. He pointed out that in the 87th minute, with City leading 1-0, they made a series of poor decisions—culminating in a penalty for United, which leveled the score. Silva emphasized that such mistakes, especially in critical moments, are inexcusable at the highest level of football.
“If it’s a game or two, you can say they are being lucky or not. If it’s 10 games, it’s not about that,” Silva stated. “If you’re winning 1-0 in the last minutes of a derby, with a corner for your team, and the ball ends up at your keeper with a penalty for them, you deserve to pay for that.” He further added that City’s performance in the final stages of the match, when they “played like Under-15s,” reflected a lack of professionalism.
Silva’s frustration extended beyond individual mistakes, as he called for the entire team to reflect on their overall approach. He rejected the idea that the team had simply been unlucky in recent matches, instead stressing that their ongoing poor results were a consequence of poor decision-making. He made it clear that there are no excuses for such performances at this level of competition, underlining the need for the players to take responsibility.
Silva was also asked about Mattheus Nunes, who was involved in conceding the penalty that allowed United to equalize. However, Silva spread the blame across the whole team, indicating that the loss was a collective failure rather than the fault of any single player.
This candid and harsh assessment from Silva highlights the growing frustrations within the City squad, as they struggle to maintain their usual dominance in the Premier League and across other competitions. The loss to United, combined with the team’s recent poor form, adds pressure on manager Pep Guardiola and the players as they look to turn things around in the coming weeks.