Bernardo Silva has insisted he doesn’t pay any attention to stats as he brushed off rival fans’ criticisms. The Portuguese star has been one of City’s standout players this season. The 27-year-old has bounced back following a somewhat disappointing campaign last season to once again nail down a place in Pep Guardiola’s side.
Silva had looked close to leaving the club last summer after requesting a transfer, with the midfielder revealing he wanted to be closer to family back in Portugal. He remained at the Etihad though, and the Blues have been reaping the rewards this season.
The former Benfica man has already equalled his best tally in terms of league goals, having struck seven so far this season. And with City aiming for a historic treble, Silva’s form could play a big part in the club adding to their trophy cabinet.
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Despite his impressive showings this season, rival supporters have questioned his abilities. His detractors point to the fact that some stats are skewed against him, with Silva having only registered one Premier League assist so far this season.
In an interview with The Times though, the Portuguese hit back at his critics, insisting stats shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all for players. It’s a view that is shared by his manager, Pep Guardiola.
“People that don’t understand the game tend to go to stats,” Silva said. “Nowadays unfortunately a lot of players tend to drive themselves towards this craziness of wanting to score as many goals as they can or making as many assists as possible.
“If you go to the social media and if you don’t score and you don’t make assists, people will say that you’re not a good player. That’s just crazy.
“I’m a midfielder. If every time I have the ball, I play like a quarterback and start shooting balls to the other box, some of them will go to the other team’s players and we will lose control of the ball, but one will be successful and I’ll get one assist.
“But what’s the point in me getting an assist if we lose 3-1? I don’t want an assist if my team loses 3-1. You should look at what’s best for your team, and not what’s best for you. That’s more much more important than finishing the season with 30 goals or 30 assists.”
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