Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has admitted that the club’s current cycle has come to an end, urging the management to oversee a significant squad rebuild in the summer transfer window.
The defending Premier League champions have endured a challenging campaign, falling 20 points behind leaders Liverpool and suffering an unexpected exit from the Champions League at the play-off stage. Given City’s high standards over the past decade, this season has been widely regarded as a major disappointment.
Silva: “This Club Needs to Renew Itself”
Speaking in an interview with DAZN, Silva acknowledged the team’s decline and the need for fresh faces to reinvigorate the squad.
“It’s been a difficult season, very frustrating, because the level to which we had accustomed people was very high,” Silva admitted.
“For the last seven seasons, we have won six Premier League titles, reached the advanced stages of the Champions League, and competed fiercely in the FA Cup and League Cup. But cycles end—players age, careers evolve, and teams must renew themselves.”
City made history last season by becoming the first team to win four consecutive Premier League titles, an achievement that Silva believes is hard to sustain indefinitely.
“Nobody had ever won four Premier Leagues in a row until we did it last year. Keeping up that level was always going to be difficult,” he said.
Guardiola’s Frustrations and Squad Overhaul Plans
Manager Pep Guardiola has also voiced his concerns about the squad’s physical limitations. With the increasing demands of modern football, the Spaniard believes his ageing team can no longer handle playing at the required intensity, especially with matches often coming twice a week.
According to reports, Guardiola is planning a major squad shake-up this summer, with at least seven first-team players potentially facing exits. Among those with uncertain futures is Kevin De Bruyne, the veteran playmaker who has been one of the club’s most influential figures for nearly a decade.
A Tough Season for City
City’s struggles this season have been glaring. Their usually dominant possession-based style has at times looked slow and predictable, while injuries and fatigue have further exposed the squad’s limitations.
A shocking early exit from the Champions League compounded their misery, and their hopes of winning the Premier League have long faded, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa all ahead in the table.
For a club that has set such high standards under Guardiola, the idea of finishing a season without a major trophy is almost unthinkable. However, Silva remains hopeful about City’s future, believing the club will return to winning ways with the right adjustments.
“We are trying to find different solutions, and I am sure that this club will be very successful again. It was a bad six months, and we have to accept it. But I hope that six bad months do not put everything in doubt, because that would be the beginning of the end.”
Who Could Leave & Who Might Arrive?
With Guardiola set to oversee a squad rebuild, speculation has already begun about which players might leave and who City could target.
Potential Exits
- Kevin De Bruyne – At 32, his injury struggles and high wages make him a potential departure.
- Kyle Walker – The experienced right-back has been a key figure, but his age is becoming a concern.
- Bernardo Silva – The Portuguese star has been linked with Barcelona and PSG in recent seasons.
- Kalvin Phillips – Has struggled for game time since arriving from Leeds United.
- Jack Grealish – Reports suggest City may listen to offers after an underwhelming season.
Potential Signings
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) – If available, City would be keen on securing the England star.
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) – One of Europe’s brightest young talents.
- Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) – Could be a perfect midfield partner for Rodri.
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) – An exciting attacking playmaker.
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What’s Next for Man City?
With Champions League qualification still in play, City will aim to finish the season strongly before making key decisions on their squad in the summer. Guardiola’s next transfer window could be one of the most pivotal in his Manchester City tenure, as he looks to refresh his squad and regain their dominance.
Whether City can bounce back quickly remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: changes are coming.
