Bernardo’s future had been the subject of speculation in the close season but the silky-smooth star signed a contract extension, in August, with the sky blues until 2026.
Guardiola was thrilled because of the strong relationship he has with the playmaker, his competitive streak and his versatility, which was shown most starkly when he played as a left-back in the corresponding fixture last season in a vital 3-1 win at the Emirates.
“Bernardo is so important for us, for me personally because of the relationship I have with him,” said the boss in his pre-match press conference.
“Always I like to have relations. Tight relations with some players is possible, for the other ones is not because everyone has his own character, myself first. Bernardo is so special.
“And, of course, he’s an adaptive player, can play in a few positions, many, many positions.
“He’s a huge competitor. He loves to win. He’s incredibly hungry…and upset. It doesn’t look like that from the outside. But when he loses a game or misses a pass or simple things, he’s angry with himself because he’s so competitive.
“When we need a winger with more speed, I would play with Jeremy [Doku] for example or before him Leroy [Sane]. When you need a winger when you have the ball, like Riyad [Mahrez] or himself, who gives you extra time to join the team, join the structure, he’s so good.
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“He’s a really interesting player and defensively as well.
“And last season he played as a left-back against [Bukayo] Saka in Emirates.
“He can play in many, many positions. He’s so intelligent. He would have been a big loss this season after Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan], Riyad [Mahrez], Ayme [Laporte] left.
“He and Kyle [Walker] [leaving] would have been a big, big loss. Fortunately we can have him one more year.”
Two other players who are bang in form at present are Phil Foden and Rico Lewis.
Foden scored in the 3-1 UEFA Champions League victory over RB Leipzig while Lewis produced a Player of the Match display in the same win at the Red Bull Arena.
Guardiola says they have different characteristics out on the football pitch but the boss insists that makes his job ‘fascinating’ as he searches for the right balance for his team in every game.
“I think Phil has a free instinct as a football player. He’s not a player who thinks so much when he plays. He’s like a bird, fly wherever you want and do it.
“But sometimes it’s a step you have to gain as a football player - play in that position, have some duties I have to do for the team. If they do [that] I have to do this and if they don’t do [this], I have to do that. But he’s so young.
“Certain players, Rico Lewis for example, has it immediately. When he moves inside, I didn’t teach him anything, it comes from his maturity.
“But he has not the talent that Phil has in other aspects. But that’s normal, that’s nice, it’s not a copy, paste with players, everyone is different.
“How you discover [this] as a manager is a big, big target - how you discover, imagine, figure out how the relationship between them can fit perfect the way we want to play.
“It’s not you play that way, no it’s ‘you, him, him with him’ - how you connect it. That’s what makes my job, wow, so fascinating.
“[Phil] has this instinct, like natural, like the big talent in the final third, I am not going to stop him. I am not going to say ‘don’t do that’. Because he’s unique.”
