Key Takeaways:
- Bernardo Silva has been appointed as Manchester City captain for this season, replacing Kevin De Bruyne
- Pep Guardiola personally chose Silva for the role, citing his reliability and versatility during last season’s challenges
- Guardiola has also refreshed his coaching team, adding Kolo Touré, James French, and former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders
Guardiola’s Reasoning Behind Silva’s Appointment
For the current season, Manchester City’s captaincy responsibilities have shifted to Bernardo Silva. Unlike the tradition at several clubs, where captains are selected through a squad vote, City manager Josep Guardiola made this choice solely himself. Guardiola has publicly shared his reasons, noting Silva’s unwavering commitment during difficult periods last term. The Portuguese midfielder often featured as the side dealt with a limited squad – on some occasions reduced to 13 or 14 senior players plus academy talents – and coped with the pressures of losing matches every three days. Guardiola emphasised Silva’s exceptional willingness to serve the team in multiple roles, including left-back, right-back, winger, and defensive midfielder, consistently prioritising the collective good regardless of position. He highlighted Silva’s positivity, leadership, and availability as key assets for the captaincy.
"When we were in big, BIG trouble… he was always there."
Pep Guardiola on why Bernardo Silva wears the captain’s armband for Man City this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/xzVmWwJWLC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 20, 2025
Leadership Change: From De Bruyne to Silva
Bernardo Silva takes the armband from Kevin De Bruyne, who departed for Napoli during the summer transfer window, marking a new era in Manchester City’s leadership.
Quoted Explanation from Guardiola
“I chose him for one reason,” began Pep, as quoted by Sky Sports. “Last season, when were in big, big trouble, Bernardo was always there. He was always there, trained every day… exhausted. At one point, we had barely 13–14 players plus kids from the academy, and every three days we would lose a match – and he was always there. This is the player during my time here who has played the most minutes, always been available. Because of his generosity, even when he’s not playing – always with a big smile, always trying to help. He’s played as a left-back, right-back, winger, defensive midfielder. It doesn’t matter what position – he always thinks about what’s best for the team. With all his qualities, I said he would be a good captain. And he has truly been a very, very good captain.”
Coaching Staff Revamp
This season also sees a significant update to Guardiola’s backroom staff. Recruited into the team are Kolo Touré, James French, and Pep Lijnders. Lijnders, in particular, is notable for his long tenure as an assistant to Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool. Guardiola expressed his enthusiasm at working with Lijnders and the other new appointments, valuing the unique expertise and perspectives they offer.
| Name | New Role | Notable Background |
|---|---|---|
| Kolo Touré | Assistant Coach | Former Premier League defender and experienced coach |
| James French | Assistant Coach | Background in coaching and analysis |
| Pep Lijnders | Assistant Coach | Long-standing assistant to Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool |
Guardiola’s View on New Appointments
“About Pep (Lijnders – ed.), I said to myself: If he was with Jürgen Klopp for so, so many years, then this man must be good! From the first day, there was an incredible connection between us. I think it’s very easy to work with me because I give enormous freedom to do what they believe in, and we just needed one phone call for me to say: ‘Let’s do it! Let’s go together!’” explained the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.
“Pep Lijnders, James French, Kolo Touré… they have knowledge that I don’t have, that I haven’t had! And they share it with me, and maybe that helps in other matters as well. All of us together can make the team better…”, added Guardiola.
