The Spanish youngster provided yet more evidence of his exciting potential by claiming a goal as City’s Under-21 began our Leasing.com Trophy group campaign with a fine 2-0 win at Rochdale on Wednesday night.
Bernabe was one of a number of Paul Harsley’s EDS youngsters who gained crucial senior experience as part of Pep Guardiola’s squad during our summer Asia Tour.
And Bernabe said the thrill of playing and training alongside Spanish compatriot David Silva out in China, Hong Kong and Japan - as well as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne - had only served to fire the hunger to feed his own football education here at City.
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“When I came to train with players like David and Kevin, I focused for every second to try to learn and improve my football by looking at them,” said Bernabe.
“I also tried to listen everything Pep and Mikel (Arteta) said to try and improve my football to arrive at the top level.
“For me as David is also Spanish, when I was younger I looked up to him and Andres Iniesta and for me to play with him and train with him was a pleasure.
“I was a like a young kid looking up to him and now to have been training with him is incredible.
“Being on the tour was an incredible experience playing next to amazing players and I will really work hard to try and get more opportunities with the first team and I thank everyone who works hard with us every day.
“I just try to give my best every day in training and in games and if the opportunities will come, I will try to take them.”
Wednesday’s excellent win at the Crown Oil Arena marked the start of a busy September for Bernabe and his EDS team-mates with City facing key fixtures in the Premier League 2, the UEFA Youth League as well as a second Leasing.com Trophy group clash at Bradford.
And Bernabe said Harsley’s squad were keen to keep building on the momentum of both the Rochdale win and the preceding impressive 4-1 league victory away at Liverpool at the end of August.
“It was first game in the competition and we tried to play our game, keeping the ball and we played very well,” Bernabe added.
“Now we start this comp very well and we have to keep pushing to get more wins in the league and obviously try to win our first games in the UEFA Youth League
“Last year was a bit frustrating for us as we didn’t get through the group. We had injuries and it was frustrating but this year we have a god young team that is hungry for the competition.”
