Bernardo Silva sends Liverpool warning and breaks silence on guard of honour snub - 'A bad loser'

Silva

Bernardo Silva has fired a title warning to Liverpool as he explained why he infamously refused to applaud the Reds during a guard of honour.

The Portuguese, who has been appointed as the new Man City captain, has won six Premier League titles since moving to the Etihad in 2017.

But last season marked the second time he has missed out on winning the English top-flight as Pep Guardiola’s side finished third - 13 points behind Arne Slot’s side.

Silva admits the City squad felt guilty during their disappointing campaign, admitting they gave up too easily. But the 31-year-old has seen enough this summer to be confident that Guardiola’s men can challenge for the title again this season.

Silva

“There’s a lot of guilt among the players, in the manager, in everyone for not doing better last season,”

Silva admitted. “A team with our experience, with our quality, even with [the injuries we had], we cannot go down as easily as we did.

“We should have done better to overcome this situation. About competing for the title, we didn’t even give it a try.

“I think emotional-wise we’re definitely back. In terms of being hungry again, we’re back.

“This is all very beautiful, but at the end of the day the quality on the pitch will make a difference and show if we’re prepared to perform or not.”

Silva previously missed out on the Premier League title with City in the 2019/20 season as they finished second - 18 points behind champions Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s side clinched the title with seven games still to play that year, with a trip to Man City their first outing as champions.

While Guardiola’s squad welcomed the Reds out to a customary guard of honour, Silva infamously refused to clap the Liverpool squad.

he has now admitted that he is a bad loser as he explained his controversial decision to snub Klopp’s side.

Silva told The Times.

“I’m a bad loser, yeah,”

“I hate losing. I played 12 years at Benfica and they taught us not to be happy if you lose.

“In my opinion, it’s kind of a hypocrisy [the guard of honour]. It’s not a tradition we have in Portugal.

“If they want to do it, they can do it, but I wasn’t going to clap Liverpool because that’s not how I celebrate defeat.

“When I win a title, I don’t need anyone else to clap for me.”