Silva admits Man City cannot win the Premier League

 

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has candidly acknowledged that his team is effectively out of the Premier League title race. Despite ending 2024 on a positive note with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, Silva admitted the gap to league leaders Liverpool is likely insurmountable.

The win at the King Power Stadium was only City’s second in their last 14 matches across all competitions, a slump that has seen the reigning champions fall to sixth place in the table. With Liverpool holding a 14-point advantage over City and a game in hand, the title challenge appears beyond reach.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Silva expressed his focus on the immediate challenges rather than the title race. I’m not looking at Liverpool, he said. “I’m sixth in the league; I cannot be looking at Liverpool or Arsenal. I’m looking at the next game to try and win three points.

While Silva refused to entirely dismiss the possibility of a comeback, he was clear about the slim chances of a turnaround. Right now, I wouldn’t say it’s impossible because in football there are no impossibles, but right now Manchester City is completely out of the title race, no question about that. It’s too late for us.

City’s dramatic decline this season marks a significant departure from their usual dominance under Pep Guardiola. Having secured five Premier League titles in the last six seasons, including a historic treble last year, the current struggles have left many questioning the reasons behind their uncharacteristic form. Injuries to key players, including Kevin De Bruyne and defensive stalwarts like John Stones and Ruben Dias, have undoubtedly played a part in their inconsistent performances.

Silva also reflected on the widely held belief that titles are not won in the early months of the season but can be lost. People say you cannot win the league until January, he added. However, City’s poor run of form has seen them lose crucial ground at a critical time, leaving little room for error in the second half of the campaign.

While the title race may be out of reach, Silva and his teammates remain determined to turn their season around. With battles for Champions League qualification and other trophies still in play, the midfielder emphasized the importance of focusing on the short term and rediscovering consistency.

Manchester City’s hopes of salvaging their campaign now rest on their ability to regain form and momentum. For Silva, the priority is simple: tackle each game to collect three points and restore pride in what has been a challenging season.