Meanwhile, Arsenal had the luxury of five full days to prepare for Sunday’s critical match at the Emirates. Silva contended that this disparity not only affected his team’s performance but also detracted from the quality of the match, as City had to adopt a more defensive style than usual. Notably, sports expert Fabrizio Romano shared the player’s sentiments on his official X account.
Silva added:
Bernardo Silva: We cannot come to one of the most important games [vs Arsenal] in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. It’s not fair to play one of these games like this. It’s just not right.
Despite acknowledging that he did not feel at his best, Silva clarified that his concerns were not solely about the outcome but rather about the logic of fixture arrangements.
He commented:
We don’t mind playing every three or four days, don’t mind playing 60 games. But what we ask for is common sense for one of biggest games of the season. I don’t think they’re trying to make us lose – it could happen to Arsenal or Liverpool in a few months.
He went on to disclose that numerous previous attempts by captains to address this issue with football governing bodies have not been met with acknowledgment.
They don’t listen to us. It never changes. But when you have games like Arsenal vs City or City vs Liverpool, there has to be more common sense. Otherwise, it’s not fair competition.
Silva emphasized that this problem extends beyond Manchester City, cautioning that Arsenal, Liverpool, or any other leading club could find themselves in a similar predicament in the future.
