Bernardo Silva: "AS Monaco was a fantastic time for me!"

Returning to the Stade Louis-II for the first time since his departure in the summer of 2017, the Portuguese midfielder, who rose to prominence at the foot of the Rock, spoke at a press conference on the eve of his return to AS Monaco in the Champions League (9 p.m.).

He arrived in anonymity before leaving as a legend. Having become a French champion in 2017 with AS Monaco, two years after his arrival in the Principality, Bernardo Silva will make his big return this Wednesday to the Stade Louis-II with Manchester City in the Champions League (9 p.m.). And it was with the status of captain of the Citizens that the Portuguese spoke to the media before the match.🎙️

In 2017, we weren't a mature team. Participating in the Champions League was enough to satisfy us at that time. (...) We often joke with Bernardo: the first match in Manchester ended with us winning 5-3, but here in Monaco we defended too badly in the final minutes (smiles). (...) Bernardo, Mendy, Mbappé, Fabinho... What a team they were!

His feelings upon returning to Monaco

It feels good to be back (big smile)! It’s been eight and a half years since I’ve been here at the Stade Louis-II. I played here for three seasons and left behind some great memories. It was a fantastic time for me, because this club gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level for the first time. So I’m very happy to be here. Have I spoken to Pep Guardiola about it? (He smiles) We often remember that 2017 match; it was truly incredible to beat a team like Manchester City.

It was a fantastic season with AS Monaco, where we did well in every competition, whether in the Champions League where we reached the semifinals, or in Ligue 1 where we finished as champions, especially since we know that it’s not easy to beat Paris Saint-Germain. But we had a young squad that was full of energy, and a lot of joy in our way of living and playing. When I think about it, I have a lot of memories in mind, and it makes me smile every time!

What a mistake we made not signing him sooner!… Bernardo Silva is one of the best players I’ve had the chance to coach in ten years, it’s a luxury for us to have him, he can play everywhere! He’s an extraordinary player; intelligent and capable of playing in many different positions.

His new role as captain

It’s a pleasure, and above all, a great honor and a great responsibility for me to be the new captain of Manchester City. After eight years of experience with this team, I know exactly what Pep expects of us. So I feel like I can pass on my experience to the younger players and be an example for them. Of course, we can laugh sometimes, but when it’s time to get down to work, we have to do it wholeheartedly! So I’m trying to do my best to help the team get back to the level it deserves to be.

Bernardo 💬 It’s been a great honour for me [to be made captain] and I’m trying my best to get this team back to the level it deserves to be. pic.twitter.com/c9MmUO3KXe

— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 30, 2025

The changing face of the team

Manchester City has been very successful over the past eight years, not just thanks to a single captain, but thanks to a host of leaders. Above all, there were players of character who helped the club reach this level, and that’s my job today. We have to try to recreate an environment conducive to success, starting with training hard every day. But it’s not possible alone. We’ve had great victories in the past because there were 10 or 15 players of this type.

AS Monaco is a team that has historically always launched the careers great young players, great talents who then continued their careers in the best clubs in the world! If we only take my generation, there were Kylian Mbappé, Thomas Lemar, Fabinho, Benjamin Mendy… and we all have started for the biggest teams in Europe.

It’s time to focus on what’s ahead and get City back to where it deserves to be. I’m one of the most experienced players now, so it’s up to me to pass on this experience. I’m focused on having a great season with City. A lot has changed in the last six months, so we have to adapt to new ideas and get back to where we were. We have to improve every day and gradually get back to where we are. We have the potential, and I think it can be this season, but it’s a matter of time.

Photo: Icon Sport

On the Monégasques

AS Monaco is a team that has historically always launched the careers great young players, great talents who then continued their careers in the best clubs in the world! If we only take my generation, there were Kylian Mbappé, Thomas Lemar, Fabinho, Benjamin Mendy… and we all have started for the biggest teams in Europe. So I have no doubt about the quality of AS Monaco players, and I’m sure it will be a very difficult match tomorrow.

Even though they lost twice recently, I don’t think it will be any easier for us because they started the season very well. In Lorient they had a red card which strongly influenced the match. And against Club Bruges, it wasn’t a good day for AS Monaco, but every game is different. I’m sure that here, at their home ground at the Stade Louis-II, it won’t be easy. I know the club very well, its mentality and the type of players they have, and I have no doubt that there is quality in this team.