A conversation with Fernandinho helped change the way Bernardo Silva approached games at Manchester City.
The former Monaco star had to bide his time to earn a regular starting spot but shone last season with Kevin De Bruyne missing large chunks of the campaign through injury. Bernardo was the dynamo of a team that retained its Premier League title in formidable style, with the Portugal international seemingly never tired despite the gruelling schedule.
According to Bernardo, that attitude did not come immediately but was picked up after Fernandinho caught him grumbling about his injury problems. The veteran Brazilian, who turned 35 this month, gently reminded his younger colleague that pain was something he would have to get used to if he was to play regularly.
“When you play once every three of four days, four or five seasons in a row, it starts getting more difficult. You get more tired, having little problems," Bernardo said.
"I remember once talking with Fernandinho about this and after one training session I was complaining about my back, my leg and he just said 'Bernardo, you are 25, when you get to my age, you won’t play a game without pain in three different parts of your body!' From that moment I thought 'OK, let’s do it.'
"It doesn’t matter if you have pain in your left leg, in your right arm, your head, it doesn’t matter; you go for it. It won’t solve the problem complaining. You try to eat, sleep, have a good lifestyle and just go for it."
