Why I Appointed Man City Captain For The First Time – Guardiola
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has opened up on the reasons for appointing Bernardo Silva as club’s captain ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The club’s captain for the 2024-25 season Kevin De Bruyne departed at the end of the season. He has now joined Italian champions, Napoli.
For the first time in his coaching career, Guardiola has chosen the captain of the team after delegating the decision to the players, and staff in the past.
He has now appointed Portuguese winger Bernardo Silva as the captain of the team to be assisted by vice-captains Rúben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland.
The Spanish manager opened up on the reasons behind his decision to change a long-term career style.
Guardiola said: “I’m the manager this season, for the first time in my career, I decided who would be my captain. I didn’t like what happened last season. I decided this season.
“Sometimes I want to be the boss and this season I decided to do it, so I chose the four captains and at the end of this World Cup, maybe we will choose one or two more.”
Haaland has been named as a vice-captain for the first time in his career after signing a 10-year contract in January.
Guardiola is backing the Norway striker to become the captain of the club in the future.
“Erling Haaland is so young, but he has to start to learn what it means to be a captain, because he will be here for many, many years. Sooner or later, he will take that position as the first one.”
Kyle Walker was made captain a year ago, but he joined AC Milan on loan in the January transfer window which didn’t go down well with Guardiola.
Meanwhile, Man City’s newly-appointed captain, Bernardo Silva, hinted that the 2025-26 season could be his last at the Etihad but he is looking forward to performing his role as the captain of the team.
He said: “I know what I’m going to do, but it’s not the time to talk about that. I’m very focused on my season. I’m very focused on performing well for Man City. When the time is due, I will talk about it.
“I have one year on my contract so obviously I can leave next season. I’ve had options in the past and this year, like last year, and this year my option is to stay at Man City.”
Silva joined Manchester City in 2017 from Monaco. He has scored 71 goals, and recorded 72 assists in 404 appearances across all competitions, winning 17 trophies including six Premier League titles, and a Champions League trophy.
Why I Appointed Man City Captain For The First Time – Guardiola is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
