The Portuguese international is in the final year of his contract with Manchester City.
Manchester City’s thrashing of Liverpool (4-0) in the FA Cup quarter-finals brought more than just the Citizens ‘ passage to the next stage . At the end of the match, with Pep Guardiola absent due to suspension, it was Pep Lijnders who took the lead, ultimately opening the door to a possible farewell for Bernardo Silva at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old Portuguese international’s contract expires in the summer and he has yet to renew, being linked to several destinations, including top clubs. When questioned about the impact of a potential departure, Lijnders was clear in emphasizing the midfielder’s importance.
You can’t replace Bernardo with just any player. You have to change a lot of things. Players with these characteristics simply don’t exist,” the coach began by saying.
The Citizens ‘ assistant coach further detailed the Portuguese player’s crucial role in the dynamics of the British team.
“The way he controls the games, how he moves, how he receives the ball, how he leads and finds solutions… all of that makes him a unique player,” he added.
In this regard, he explained that the club will not seek a direct replica in the market.
“We never look for an identical replacement. What we look for is someone who helps the team grow and fits into the collective idea. Then, we also hope that the young players from the academy can take that step forward,” said Lijnders.
Nevertheless, the Dutch coach did not hide the fact that Bernardo’s absence would have a profound impact on the performance of Guardiola’s team.
“When he doesn’t play, you already feel his absence in one game… imagine over an entire season. It’s going to be difficult,” he admitted.
These words carry even more weight considering the Portuguese player’s status within the squad, where he has been one of the most influential figures since arriving in 2017 from Monaco.
At a crucial stage of the season, with Manchester City still competing on several fronts, Guardiola’s assistant ended up adopting an almost farewell tone, reinforcing the idea that his time in the team may be nearing its end.
“Every good story has an end. I hope he enjoys these last few months, there are about six weeks left, and has the send-off he deserves. He deserves all this attention,” he concluded.