17 April 2024 , 01:00
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Bernardo Silva admits Manchester City began the season with a hangover – but now have clear heads and are focused on winning a double treble.
City playmaker Bernardo conceded last season's treble triumph took its toll on Pep Guardiola's squad, so much so they lost their way at the start of this campaign. Guardiola's side were far from their imperious best in the first half of the season, but are now on a 27-game unbeaten run in all competitions as they look to create more history.
After Liverpool and Arsenal lost at the weekend, City have a two-point lead in the title race with six games left, and face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend. If City can get past Real Madrid tonight and go on to win a second straight treble, Silva agreed it would be hard to argue against them being the greatest club side of all time.
"Obviously the inspiration and motivation is there, because we know how well this team has done,” said Silva, who scored twice in City's 4-0 rout of Real last season. "From a team that won a Treble, that came back with a bit of a hangover but then have that hunger to go every three days, it's not easy.
"But we've given ourselves a chance. At the start of the season we had players injured, Rodri was suspended and big players had left, like Gundogan and Mahrez, and it's not easy for new players to adapt.
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“There was a time when we weren't playing well, we weren't controlling games and conceding a lot of late goals, which is not normal for us. We managed to be more solid and since December we haven’t lost, so we're happy to get to this part of the season still fighting for the three most important competitions.
"We want to create that legacy. To win another Premier League, to make six in seven years - and four in a row. We want to win the Champions League to win two in a row. Only Madrid did three in a row. And if we win two Trebles in a row, that would be a legacy, so we're fighting for it."
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The Champions League quarter-final is finely poised after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg (Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)To remain on course for a repeat of last season's stunning achievement, City must overcome 14-time winners in tonight's quarter-final return leg at the Etihad. The tie is poised at 3-3 after a breathtaking first leg in the Bernabeu, with Silva admitting Real will be out to avenge last season's humiliating exit – just as City were after suffering a heartbreaking late exit to them two years ago.
"For sure they will want a bit of revenge, so it will be a very difficult game,” said Silva. "But we have that feeling that at home we're very strong with our people. After what happened the season before, when we were knocked out at the Bernabeu, we wanted to put things right.
"That performance was a bit of an apology to our fans for what happened the season before. We felt we owed them another chance to win the competition and we did it."
Despite City being favourites to go through, with home advantage, Silva claimed you can never believe you have the measure of Real – because they can always surprise you.
"We have the maximum respect for Real Madrid, for everything they have achieved in this competition and their history,” said Silva. "We know they're a very dangerous team.
"Sometimes you feel you're in control, then they get in behind you and score goals, so it's very difficult to control them. You feel you have the game under control, but you never do against them.They're one of the best teams, player for player, in the world."
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