Pep Guardiola has expressed his love for Bernardo Silva on the eve of Manchester City’s Champions League last-16 game against Schalke while speaking to the club’s official website.
The Portugal midfielder has been one of the stars of City’s season so far, scoring eight and assisting seven in all competitions.
But it’s perhaps his work-rate and attitude which have caught the eye the most. In the game against Liverpool at the Etihad in January, he ran 13.7km, more than any other player in the Premier League this season.
Pep is full of admiration for Silva, saying: “He is a lovely person. He never makes a bad face. He’s the guy in the locker room who is most loved.
“He is very talented. He can play in three or four positions.
“I think, this season, he is one of the best players in the Premier League. He is a joy for a manager. I am a lucky guy to have Bernardo in my hands, in every training session and every game.
“I love him. Simple as that.”
Guardiola’s side travel to Germany for the last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
City have never won the competition but are strong favorites to reach the quarter-finals.
“It is a special competition, we have to control our emotions,” said Guardiola. “We are confident and it is important to score away an goal.”
Guardiola won the competition twice as Barcelona boss, but the last of those came in 2011. He failed to lift the trophy in his three seasons at Bayern Munich as is now into his third season with City.