“They feel relieved, relaxed” – Pep Guardiola reacts to Bernardo Silva and John Stones exit announcements

With City still chasing Arsenal in the title race and an FA Cup final against Chelsea on the horizon, Guardiola was asked ahead of Monday night’s Premier League meeting with Everton if keeping the 31-year-olds focused since their announcements had presented a challenge.

Bernardo & John are relieved, absolutely not a problem: Pep

Guardiola was characteristically direct and reassuring in his response. “No, it depends on the players. I think they are relieved a little bit, relaxed, you know, announcing the exits,” he said.

“I said to John, ‘How do you feel after the announcement?’. He said, ‘I feel really good, relieved. I feel love from the fans, from the people in my close environment’, the loved ones of John

“So I know them, I know how competitive they are, I see in training Bernardo since the announcement, he’s as always. Absolutely not.”

Guardiola’s reading of the situation rings true. For Silva and Stones, the uncertainty of an unresolved future is arguably more of a distraction than the clarity that comes with a confirmed exit – and the warmth of the reception both have received from the City fanbase since their announcements has clearly only added to that sense of relief.

Stones’ farewell video in particular struck a deeply personal chord, the 31-year-old describing his time at the club as having “smashed every dream out of the park” and pledging that Manchester City would be his team forever. For a player who has given so much during a decade at the Etihad Stadium, the love back from supporters has clearly meant everything.

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What is the wider context for City’s run-in?

City travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday knowing that three points are essential if they are to stay in touch with Arsenal at the top of the table.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with a 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, having played two more games than Guardiola and co – making the stakes as high as they have been for City at any point in the run-in.

With Stones and Silva both available and, by Guardiola’s account, as committed as ever, City head into the final stretch of what has been a remarkable season with their squad intact and their focus undimmed.