Erling Haaland Gets The Headlines, But Bernardo Silva Wins The Games

Erling Haaland's winner at Old Trafford was inevitable. The Norwegian's 60th-minute strike, after Phil Foden's red card, was the headline. But the real story was Bernardo Silva, who ran the game with ten men and made the impossible look routine. He is the most underrated player in the Premier League.

The Silent Architect Of City's Dominance

Bernardo has been at the Etihad since 2017. In that time, he has won six league titles, a Champions League, and countless individual plaudits from those who watch him week in, week out. Yet he has never been shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year. Not once. Compare that to Kevin De Bruyne, who has won it twice. Or Rodri, who finally got his flowers last season. Bernardo remains the ghost in the machine.

His performance at Old Trafford was a microcosm of his career. With Foden sent off after 26 minutes, City needed someone to keep the ball, to slow the game, to frustrate United. Bernardo did all that and more. He completed 92% of his passes, made five tackles, and covered 12.3 kilometres—more than any other player on the pitch. He was everywhere, yet nowhere in the post-match analysis. The pundits fawned over Haaland's finish and debated the red card. Bernardo's name barely came up.

The Case For Bernardo As City's Most Important Player

There is a strong argument that Bernardo is more important to Pep Guardiola than any other player. When Rodri was injured earlier this season, it was Bernardo who dropped deeper and kept City's midfield ticking. When De Bruyne was out, Bernardo created. When City need to see out a game, Bernardo keeps the ball. He is the ultimate utility man, but that term undersells his genius. He is not a jack of all trades; he is a master of all.

  • Since 2018-19, Bernardo has made more Premier League appearances than any other City player (203).
  • He has the highest pass completion rate of any City midfielder in that period (89.4%).
  • In the 2022-23 treble season, he started 50 of City's 53 games in all competitions.
  • He has never been dribbled past more than 0.8 times per game in a Premier League season.

These are not the stats of a mere squad player. They are the stats of a metronome, a player who sets the tempo and ensures City never lose control. And yet, when the awards are handed out, when the headlines are written, Bernardo is ignored. He is the invisible man of the Etihad.

The Counter-Argument: He Doesn't Score Enough

The obvious rebuttal is that Bernardo doesn't contribute enough goals. His best return was 13 in 2018-19, and he has only reached double figures once since. In a era where midfielders are judged on goals and assists, Bernardo's numbers look modest. But this is a lazy argument. Bernardo's role is not to score; it is to make City tick. He is the one who allows De Bruyne and Foden to flourish, who covers for the full-backs when they bomb forward, who presses like a man possessed. His value cannot be measured in goals alone.

Moreover, when City have needed a goal, Bernardo has delivered. His strike against Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021-22 season was one of the most important in the club's history. His goal against Real Madrid in the 2023 Champions League semi-final was a moment of pure brilliance. He scores when it matters, even if he doesn't score often.

The Verdict: Bernardo Will Finally Get His Due This Season

This season, with De Bruyne ageing and Rodri facing a long-term injury, Bernardo's importance has never been clearer. He has started every league game, and City have not lost any of them. If City win a fifth consecutive title, it will be because Bernardo Silva kept them together. And when the PFA Player of the Year shortlist is announced in April, I predict Bernardo will finally be on it. If he isn't, the voters should be ashamed. He is the best midfielder in the Premier League, and it's time we all admitted it.

Prediction: Bernardo Silva will be named in the PFA Team of the Year for the first time since 2019, and Manchester City will win the league by at least five points. If not, I'll eat my words—but don't bet against the invisible man.

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