Manchester City have beaten Chelsea 2-0 in their opening Premier League game of 2024/25.
Manchester City responded to Arsenal’s win over Wolves on Saturday, beating the Blues by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge.
Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic were on target for the visitors.
City were not at their best, and it is clear that there is a little bit of rust and there are still players to come back into the side.
But it was still a professional job, and perhaps just a reminder to some that they will come strong again this season.
This was a big game, and there is perhaps no one more suited for the big occasions than Bernardo Silva, who came in for high praise from Gary Neville at the end of the game.
Gary Neville lauds Bernardo Silva for his performance for Man City against Chelsea
Earlier this summer, there was again some speculation that Bernardo Silva would potentially be on his way out of the club.
But it has been all quiet on him recently, and City fans have been enjoying that.
That is because they know how good the £43 million player he is – and his quality was on show once again today against Chelsea.
The Portuguese was tireless playing in the middle with Kovacic, and it was he who supplied Haaland for his first goal of the season.
Gary Neville awarded him the Man of the Match at the end, and the pundit said on Sky Sports: “With no hesitation whatsoever, Bernardo Silva is the man for all seasons, all matches and all positions. Wherever Manchester City and Pep Guardiola want him, he’s there. He’s a wonderful, wonderful football player.
“Not just on the ball, but his understanding of the game. His defensive work, his organisation, his leadership, look at him. Mentality. Brilliant he is.”
Bernardo a joy to watch
So it looks set to be another season of Bernardo in a City shirt, and that is a huge boost for Pep.
He sometimes does not get the same credit as the likes of Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, but he is simply essentially for City.
Neville hits the nail on the head. He is the man for all occasions and all positions, and it is hard to imagine this team without him in it.
It is a pleasure to watch him play football, and when he does finally come to leave, he will surely leave as a club legend.