Why I initially refused Man City armband despite Pep Guardiola offer, as explained by Bernardo Silva

Bernardo: I was hesitant to assume Man City captaincy

In conversation with Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, Silva has shed light on his thinking when Guardiola approached him to take the armband from De Bruyne.

“Pep (Guardiola) was a bit upset with me initially,” the midfielder said. “We didn’t agree completely because I said, ‘Look, you know my decision. I’m going to leave (the club) in one year. Maybe it’s better for the club if you choose the guy that’s going to be a captain a bit more long-term’.

“We talked again. He decided to go through with it and I was really honoured. I was just thinking that maybe for the club, it was better if it was a guy that was going to stay for at least three, four, five more years.”

Silva lifted his first trophy as Manchester City captain in March when his side beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and the Benfica academy graduate can make it a cup double by seeing off Chelsea in London this weekend.

If you don’t win, you don’t belong at Man City – Bernardo

In a passionate outline of what it takes to thrive at the club he has enjoyed an illustrious, trophy-laden nine years, Silva has explained that winning DNA is a must if a player wants to put on the Manchester City shirt.

Predicted Starting XI: Chelsea vs Manchester City (FA Cup Final)

“When you’re at a club like Man City, if you don’t win, you don’t belong,” Silva added. “You need to perform and you need to show up at training every day and do your best. You might have a good day, a worse day, but at least perform and try to do your best.

“And in terms of how we took care of our bodies, the hunger – I think we lacked that last season – and this season, we’re happy that it’s back. Then you can win or lose but at least this season, we were there. Last season, for at least six months, we weren’t very present.”

Silva and co retain slim hopes of a domestic treble as they embark upon the final 10 days of the season, though they will need a favour from Arsenal’s opponents in the Gunners’ final two league games – Burnley and Crystal Palace – if City are to win a ninth Premier League title.