After a bruising 1-1 draw against Arsenal in London, Bernardo Silva didn’t hold back about the challenges Manchester City faced leading up to the game.
Exhausted from a midweek Champions League win over Napoli, Silva blasted the tight scheduling that left City with only 66 hours between matches — far fewer than Arsenal had to prepare.
A Disadvantage Before Kick-Off
Silva was clear: the lack of recovery time put City at a significant disadvantage.
“We cannot come to one of the most important games in the season with such a disadvantage in terms of rest,” he said.
“It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right.”
The Portuguese midfielder stressed that high-profile clashes like Arsenal vs City or City vs Liverpool should be treated differently, with common sense applied to the scheduling.
While acknowledging the pressures from UEFA, the Premier League, and broadcasters, Silva argued that player welfare and fair competition should take priority.
Explaining City’s Defensive Approach
City’s unusually defensive performance on Sunday, Silva suggested, was partly due to the lack of preparation.
Fatigue made it difficult for the team to operate at their usual high-intensity style from the first whistle.
“I wasn’t feeling in perfect condition to play,” he admitted. “If you play at the highest level, you know that two days playing against one of the best teams in the league, away, with the travel, you need at least one more day to recover.”
Silva also highlighted that despite attempts to raise the issue with relevant authorities, complaints from team captains often go unheard.
“We have tried talking, they don’t listen to us. It is what it is,” he said.
Advocating for Fair Competition
Silva was keen to clarify that this isn’t about favoritism or trying to gain an advantage — it’s about fairness.
“We can lose any game in good conditions or bad conditions, but we need the respect and the common sense to be at the same level to compete,” he explained.
He suggested that just one extra day of rest could have made a meaningful difference, allowing City to perform closer to their best and keeping the contest on a more level playing field.
“Two-and-a-half days is not enough to recover our bodies and to perform at the highest level.
It is just not enough,” Silva insisted.
A Call for Change
Silva’s comments underline a growing concern among players about fixture congestion, especially in high-stakes matches.
While City showed determination and resilience, he made it clear that this kind of scheduling makes it harder to maintain the quality expected at the top level.