Veteran midfielder Bernardo Silva believes that major changes in squad personnel are necessary at the Etihad Stadium to restore Manchester City to their mesmerizing best amid their current struggles.
City have endured a nightmare campaign by their lofty standards, with Pep Guardiola’s ‘once upon a time’ almost perfect side suffering as many defeats this season as they did in the last few seasons combined.
They currently sit in fifth position on the Premier League standings and have 20 points separating them from current league leaders Liverpool. As it stands, the Cityzens risk missing out on a Champions League qualification spot with competition around that part of the table proving to be quite stiff.
In an interview with DAZN about City’s struggles this season, Silva admitted that the current squad does not meet expectations and urged the club hierarchy to address this issue in the transfer market.
“It’s been a difficult season, very frustrating, because the level to which we had accustomed people was very high,” he said.
“A level at which in the last seven seasons we have won six Premier Leagues, we have always managed to reach very advanced stages of the Champions League, we have managed to fight for many League Cups, FA Cup.
“Generations and cycles end, obviously, due to age, due to the different stages of a career, and this club will need to renew itself.
“Nobody has managed to win four Premier League titles in a row like we did last year, so obviously maintaining this level will always be difficult.
“We are trying to find different solutions, and I am sure that this club, in one way or another, will be very successful again in the future.
“It was a bad six months and we have to accept it. But I hope that six bad months do not put everything in doubt, because that would be the beginning of the end.”
We expect City to facilitate a major clear-out this season with Guardiola reported looking to be eyeing a squad overhaul ahead of the summer transfer window.
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