Pep Guardiola makes Bernardo Silva claim after Man City performance vs Bayern Munich

Pep Guardiola said Bernardo Silva is one of the best players he has ever had the fortune to coach after hailing his performance for Manchester City against Bayern Munich.

The Catalan is City’s most successful manager in our history and taken charge of illustrious Bayern Munich and Barcelona sides earlier in his career.

Despite working with some of the best players in the game’s history, Guardiola waxed lyrical about the Portuguese international after Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg victory over his old side Bayern.

Silva was given a right-wing berth for the last eight clash, one of several roles he has performed since coming to Manchester in 2017.

He tormented the defence of the German champions and grabbed a goal of his own, converting Erling Haaland’s cross with his head.

It was a performance that had his boss purring.

“Bernardo is a football player,” said Guardiola.

“What does it mean? He will play everywhere, every position, even left back, everywhere because he understands the game in every action Bernardo has the ability to read the game.

“But Bernardo is such an important player, especially in these type of games, he can play holding midfield, he can play false nine. We need this type of player. And lately he has scored a lot of goals. Always he lacked that a little bit.

“He is a player if you say play in this position, you don’t have to say anything else, he understands everything. Understands everything. From my point of view, I was lucky as a manager to have incredible, outstanding players at Barcelona and Munich.

“He is one of the best players I ever trained in my life. Ever. He is something special, a special football player.”