Silva says Manchester City must learn from past failures to finish Bayern off

Bernardo Silva has opened up on the defensive principles that guide him and make him such an all-round player, able to operate in multiple positions, suggesting his formative years at Benfica were decisive.

Silva starred for Manchester City in their 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, scoring the second goal with a header and impressing with his quick feet and sharp turns on the ball. But as Silva considers next Wednesday’s return in Bavaria, mindful that the job is only half done, plenty of cautionary tales in his mind, he can take as much heart from his work out of possession on a famous night.

Pep Guardiola and several City players spoke about their pride in the clean sheet, the collective defensive effort, particularly in terms of pressing, positioning and the reading of Bayern’s threat. Silva was key to it, his diminutive frame no barrier when set against his intelligence, non-stop movement off the right wing and ability to close down passing lanes.

“I believe that it doesn’t matter which position you play, in football everyone attacks and everyone defends so in different positions you need to defend in different ways,” he said. “Even if you’re a striker or a winger or an offensive midfielder you need to do your work properly to help the team defensively.

“I’ve worked a lot on that in my career, in my academy at Benfica. My managers when I was younger … they demanded a lot from me defensively so I am built this way.”

Silva will always remember how, in the summer of 2013 as he attempted to break into the first-team at Benfica, the manager at the time, Jorge Jesus, played him at left-back throughout pre-season and in friendly matches. Jesus did not