Football News

Vincent Kompany backs “clown” Bernardo Silva to become next Man City captain

By John Smith

Published: 15:49, 14 May 2019 | Updated: 16:48, 14 September 2021

Vincent Kompany has backed “50 per cent clown” Bernardo Silva to succeed him as Manchester City captain.

Kompany has made over 350 appearances for Manchester City and – since being made club captain in the 2011/12 season – has won four Premier League titles.

Is Bernardo Silva captain material? Five things to know…

  1. Since joining City in 2017, Bernardo Silva has notched 13 goals and 11 assists in 71 Premier League.
  2. Last season, the Portugal international was mainly used as a substitute.
  3. This season, though, he has started 40 games across all competitions.
  4. Guardiola recently named Silva as the best player in the Premier League this season.
  5. Kompany says Silva needs just 25% more leadership to become City captain.

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However, injuries have restricted the Belgian to playing 17 games or less in each of the last four Premier League seasons and at 33 years of age, his days at the top are limited.

And when the time finally comes for Kompany to leave City and give up the captain’s armband, he believes Silva would be a top candidate to take over.

“I say to him often you are 50 per cent clown, 50 per cent leader,” he told French radio station, RMC.

“When he becomes 25 per cent clown, 75 per cent leader he will become the captain of this team.

“He is so strong and to be honest there is nobody who deserves this title more.”

City’s 4-1 win over Brighton on Sunday secured a second successive Premier League title for Pep Guardiola’s side, while a win over Javi Gracia’s Watford in this weekend’s FA Cup final would see them claim an incredible domestic treble.

Guardiola: This was my toughest title

After notching a record 100 points last season, City followed it up with the second-highest points total in Premier League history this term, racking another 98 points.

In the end, they needed every single point as Liverpool finished second with 97 points – the highest of any runner-up and the third-highest points total in Premier League history – losing just one game all season, away to City in January.

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And although Guardiola still holds his first La Liga title with Barcelona in the highest regard, the Catalan boss believes the challenge posed by Jurgen Klopp’s side makes his latest triumph the most difficult.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that because the first league with Barcelona, when we won 6-2 at the Bernabeu, was incredible for me,” he told reporters.

“I was in my first year as coach in my hometown, with the club of my heart, with the club I love the most.

“But this was my most difficult, because of them [Liverpool], because of their quality.”