'Unbelievable' - Bernardo Silva issues clear Man City pledge and sends message to fans

Bernardo Silva wants a refreshed Manchester City squad to put a smile back on the faces of fans in time for Christmas.

Silva came up with the most brutal putdown yet for the Blues on their dismal run of form when he described their level in the closing minutes of the Manchester derby as being the standard of Under-15s. The midfielder has battled gamely all season, starting nine of the last 11 games where it has all gone wrong for Pep Guardiola's side and taking up whichever position has been asked of him with so many players out injured.

However, the Portugal international has been unable to stop the alarming slide of the champions that shows no sign of ending any time soon. It has been a chastening time for a group of players that celebrated an historic fourth consecutive Premier League title just seven months ago, and Silva is especially keen to break out of their slump for the fans who have supported them through the poor form.

"We’re not used to losing so many games. We have set such high standards for the past eight or nine years and now we’re going through a difficult time," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"Everyone knows we have the quality to start picking up better results because that’s why we have won four Premier League titles in a row. We’re going to keep fighting and working hard.

"As a football club we have always been together and that doesn’t change if we’re making history by being the only club to win four Premier League titles in a row or when we’re going through a tough moment like we are now.

“We have our style of play, our principles and we have to stick with them and work harder than ever. We know we are missing players through injury, but we can’t use that as an excuse and we have to