Bernardo Silva has told Sky Sports that Manchester City have “not been as lucky” as they were last year.
What did he say?
The Portugal international, who moved to the Etihad Stadium for £43m in 2017, has been in decent form for the Citizens so far this term, managing seven goals and seven assists in 34 matches in all competitions. However, he has been powerless to stop his side from falling 22 points behind the current leaders at the top.
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Talking about his side’s failed title defence, he explained: “If you look at the stats, we’re still the team that creates the most chances, scores the most goals but in the important moments, we’ve not been as lucky as in the past seasons. We always concede in the last minute, Liverpool always scores in the last minutes and these little details in football make the difference. The team just has to try and find the balance.”
Nothing to do with luck
Pep Guardiola’s men have been lacklustre in their attempts to lift the title for the third successive year. Last season, they lost just four games in the top flight, but they have already been defeated six times this term with 13 matches still to play.
Yes, they have had some injuries to key players – such as Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane – but to insinuate that they have “not been as lucky” comes across as sour grapes. Over the course of a 38-game season, the best team will always be on top of the table – the Reds’ huge 22-point gap is not down to a better rub of the green. Was Silva using luck as a reason why City won the league on the final day of the season last term? Of course he wasn’t.
Also, Jurgen Klopp’s side do not “always” score in the last minutes. Liverpool have netted 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches. Whilst this may be the joint-second most in the division, they trail City in this department by three strikes. There have been some victories clinched at the death by the Anfield outfit – Sadio Mane’s last-gasp winner against Aston Villa, for example – but that does not mean it has been something they have relied on.
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At the end of the day, the difference has been that City have not hit the same heights they have done in the past, whilst Liverpool have pushed on even further. Winning the title three years in a row is incredibly difficult – Manchester United are the only side to do so in the Premier League, on two occasions – and perhaps the constant success and pressure has played its part. But luck? Not a chance.
Meanwhile, this Liverpool star deserves to be named PFA Player of the Year.