English Premier League kicks off with thrilling action: Weekend 1 overview
With new players, coaches and newly appointed captains from respective clubs, let’s analyse the matches that happened this opening English Premier League weekend.
Bernardo Silva, Manchester City’s club-record signing, is excited to be teaming up with David Silva on the pitch, and called the Spanish playmaker ‘one of the best playmakers in the world’.
He may have been signed to be the 31-year-old’s long-term replacement at the English side, but Bernardo is clearly thrilled to be playing alongside the former Valencia man and hopes to learn from him as well.
“He is one of the best players in the world. I look forward to learning from him and to see what he can teach me. I look forward to playing with him. To have this opportunity is fantastic. When I was a kid I was looking at him and some other players, now to be able to play with them is great,” the 22-year-old said.
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Portuguese icons such as Deco and Rui Costa have lavished praise on their compatriot after his superb displays in Ligue 1 and the Champions League for Monaco, and Bernardo admits hearing them speak highly of him is a special feeling.
“When you hear someone like Deco talking about you in that way it’s great. He was one of the best players to play for our national team. He and Rui Costa are two legends and it’s great to hear him speak that way about me. Rui Costa was my idol. I grew up a Benfica fan and Rui Costa played for Benfica, ended his career in Benfica and played more or less my position," he added.
Pep Guardiola’s sides are renowned for playing beautiful football and at the same time, achieving results, a rarity in modern-day football. And City’s £60 million signing agrees with those ethos.
“Personally it is important to me. When you win and you play well you enjoy it even better. When you can have both things, winning and enjoying your football it’s great,” Guardiola said.
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