Bernardo Silva’s influence on City’s season has steadily grown as the Portuguese playmaker has steadily adapted to life in the Premier League.
The ex-Monaco star was mainly used as a sub in the first half of the campaign, starting just seven times in the Blues’ first 23 matches, but injuries to David Silva and Leroy Sane meant he has featured prominently during January and February.
Surprisingly, he has played more games than any other City player this season and there have been just two occasions when he has not featured at all – Liverpool at home and Huddersfield away – meaning he has taken part in 40 of the Blues’ 42 matches.
He is already just 11 games shy of equalling the 51 appearances he made for Monaco last season and five goals shy of the 10 he scored during the Ligue 1 side’s best campaign for many years.
That’s one more game than Kevin De Bruyne and two more than Fernandinho and Kyle Walker.
Bernardo has been a player Pep Guardiola has used for all competitiions, a mainstay for the four competitions City have competed in this season.
And, as our stats graphic shows, only David Silva, De Bruyne and Leroy Sane have made more assists than Bernardo.
So, expect Bernardo to continue to feature prominently in the months that remain as City challenge for the three trophies that remain firmly in focus – starting this Sunday against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
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