Midfielder Criticizes Teammates for “Stupid” Decisions and Lack of Experience in Late Loss
Manchester City suffered a crushing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in a dramatic derby at Old Trafford, with two goals in the final five minutes turning the tide in favor of the Red Devils. The defeat, which marks City’s eighth loss in their last 11 games, has sparked a furious response from midfielder Bernardo Silva, who did not hold back in his assessment of his team’s performance.
City had been in control for most of the match, leading 1-0 thanks to Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header. However, their hopes of securing a vital win were dashed in the dying moments, with a series of blunders allowing Manchester United to snatch a remarkable victory.
A Tale of Two Mistakes: The Key Moments
With just five minutes remaining, the game took a dramatic turn after Matheus Nunes made a disastrous backpass to City goalkeeper Ederson. The poor pass allowed United’s Amad Diallo to race through on goal, and Nunes, attempting to rectify his error, fouled Diallo inside the box, conceding a penalty. Bruno Fernandes calmly converted the spot-kick to level the score at 1-1.
Barely two minutes later, another lapse in concentration handed United the lead. Amad Diallo capitalized on a disorganized City defense, rounding Ederson and finding the back of the net. Despite two defenders attempting to block the shot, the ball crept past them, leaving City to suffer a heartbreaking defeat.
Silva’s Furious Reaction: “We Played Like Under-15s”
In the aftermath of the loss, an enraged Bernardo Silva did not mince words in his criticism of his teammates. Speaking to Sky Sports, Silva said the defeat was not a result of bad luck but rather due to poor decision-making, emphasizing that such errors are unacceptable at the highest level of football.
“At this level, a game or two is unlucky,” Silva stated. “We can’t say this is about luck or misfortune when it happens in ten games, it’s not about that. In a derby, in the 87th minute, leading 1-0, and we end up conceding a penalty from our corner, we deserved what happened. If you make such stupid decisions with three or four minutes to go, you deserve to lose.”
Silva also expressed his frustration over the team’s lack of composure and discipline, describing their play in the final moments as akin to an Under-15 team. “Looking at the game, I think there was only one team that could win the game, but in the end, we lost. It’s not one game, it’s a lot of games lately. We have to look at ourselves.”
Specific Criticisms of Teammates
Silva did not hold back in singling out specific players for criticism, particularly Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, and Kyle Walker. The midfielder pointed to a lack of communication and poor decision-making that contributed to both goals.
“There needs to be communication,” Silva explained. “We need to play short or keep the ball in the corner when we’re winning, to avoid putting ourselves under pressure. It’s not just about the pass from Matheus to the keeper it’s everything, how the ball ends up from Ruben to Matheus and Kyle. We need to be more experienced, smarter. At this level, even if you’re better than the opponent, you deserve to lose if you make these mistakes.”
Silva’s outburst reflects the growing discontent within the squad as City continue to struggle in recent weeks. With their performance falling below the high standards expected of the team, the defeat to United has left the players, staff, and fans alike questioning what went wrong. Silva emphasized that both individual and collective improvements are necessary if City are to return to their winning ways.
A Challenging Road Ahead for City
The defeat to United leaves City in a difficult position, as they look to get back to winning ways. Silva acknowledged that the team must do better, both individually and as a collective unit, to avoid further disappointing results.
“We are not very happy at the moment,” Silva admitted. “Not just with this game but the last month. We have to do better. The standards of Manchester City are much higher than this.”
City’s next challenge comes on Saturday with a tough away trip to Aston Villa, followed by fixtures against Everton and Leicester City to close out 2024. With their current form raising serious concerns, Pep Guardiola and his players will need to regroup and address the issues that have plagued their performances, or risk further setbacks in the coming weeks.
