Pep Guardiola Reveals the Single Factor Behind Bernardo Silva's Shock Man City Captaincy Appointment
Pep Guardiola has explained why Bernardo Silva's dependability and dedication to the team made selecting him as Manchester City's new captain a straightforward choice this summer.
Following Kyle Walker's departure in January, the captaincy was passed to Kevin De Bruyne, who also left the club during the summer transfer window. While Guardiola has traditionally allowed his squad to choose their own captain, he decided to take personal control of the appointment this time, selecting Silva while also establishing a new leadership group featuring Rúben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland.
During his guest appearance on Sky Sports' One on One podcast, Guardiola was asked to elaborate on his choice, emphasizing that Silva's qualities made the decision obvious.
"I selected him for one specific reason," Guardiola explained. "During last season, when we faced significant challenges, he was consistently present.
"He was always available, training daily despite being exhausted. At one point we had only 13 or 14 players plus academy members, losing matches every three days—yet he remained committed. He's accumulated the most playing time of any player during my tenure here, demonstrating constant availability. His positive attitude when not selected, always maintaining a cheerful demeanor and offering assistance to teammates.
"He's performed across multiple positions—left-back, right-back, winger, defensive midfielder. Regardless of the role, he consistently prioritizes the team's needs. Given all these qualities, I believed he would excel as captain. And he has proven to be an exceptional leader."
Silva has indeed appeared in more matches under Guardiola than any other player, reaching 408 appearances in his first Premier League match wearing the captain's armband this weekend. Nevertheless, goalkeeper Ederson holds the record for total minutes played—33,259 versus Silva's 29,138.
The Brazilian goalkeeper has been strongly rumored to leave City this summer, which could allow Silva to claim the minutes record before his contract concludes in 2026.