Manchester City endured a poor season by their standards in the Premier League last season and Pep Guardiola has attempted to get the club back on track by making a major change behind the scenes
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11:37, 18 Jun 2025
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has made a drastic change at Manchester City
(Image: Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has made the unprecedented move of naming Manchester City’s captain for the first time at the Etihad Stadium. Since arriving in Manchester, the Spaniard has put the onus on the squad to name the captain.
And that has caused the armband to be passed around regularly over the past few years. David Silva, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne have all assumed the responsibility over recent seasons.
But none of them have been in the role for very long before leaving the club. And now Guardiola has decided to take control of the decision having named Bernardo Silva as his skipper, with Rúben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland completing the club’s senior leadership group.
Explaining the decision, he said: "I’m the manager and for the first time in my career I decide the captains. I didn’t like what happened last season and I decide who will represent the team.
"Sometimes I want to be the boss. This season I decided to do it, choose the four captains and after the tournament maybe we choose one or two more.
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“He’s [Haaland] so young. But he has to learn what it means to be a captain because he will hopefully be here for many years and sooner or later he will take that position. When you have Bernardo, Rodri, Ruben and Gundogan he will learn.
“He’s incredibly well respected. I have the feeling thinking for the future that he needs to learn what is best for the team. To put the team, your mates, in front of you. You have to ask what is best for the team.
“When you do that you never make a mistake. Bernardo has been incredible for us. Nine years, no injuries. When he had to say something to me he says it because it’s best for the club. They will guide the new players.
Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva is set to be Man City's captain next season(Image: Getty Images)
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“There will be problems this season but it’s more than fine. Three or four players on the pitch are huge personalities. They say, “We cannot accept what is going on and make the step up.”
While Silva has been appointed as captain for the forthcoming season, the Portuguese playmaker has hinted that it could be a short-lived role. He has suggested that he could potentially leave in 12 months’ time once his contract expires.
“I know what I'm going to do but it's not the time to talk about that,” Silva said. “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.
"This season will for sure be with Man City. I'm going to stay. I've had options in the past and this year, like last year and this year, my option is to stay at Man City.”
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