Manchester City

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Former Manchester City centre-back Steph Houghton says Bernardo Silva can do things no other player is capable of doing.

The midfielder has announced he is leaving the club at the end of the season and Houghton said: "There is nobody that can do what he does. With Bernardo, he is a different kind of leader to [Vincent] Kompany or Fernandinho.

"A lot of it is through performances and about him leading the boys in doing certain things. You can't fault his effort every single time he pulls on a Manchester City shirt.

"No matter where he is playing, he gives absolutely everything."

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Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has announced he will leave the club when his current contract expires at the end of the season but says he will remain a supporter "for life".

The 31-year-old racked up a haul of 15 major trophies, 76 goals and 77 assists in his time at City, but says that was only half of the story.

"This city and this club gave me much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will for ever be cherished in my heart." said the Portuguese playmaker in a heartfelt post on Instagram.

"In a few months it's time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family."

He then thanked fans for their "unconditional support" through the years.

"My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch. I hope you felt that every single game."

He went on to thank the club, manager Pep Guardiola, staff and his team-mates for letting him "be a part of this journey for so long".

"The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let's enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.

"I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life."

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Man City midfielder Tijani Reijnders speaks to BBC Radio Manchester ahead of facing Arsenal this weekend: "We are in a really good flow.

"These are the kind of weeks that you relish as a Manchester City player, which is big game after big game.

"It's amazing to play games like this and to be on the stage like this, and it makes you even more eager to play. That's why I also made a move to this club to fight for trophies.

"I feel very positive, very happy. A great group as well. They helped me a lot in the beginning, and of course, we had some difficult times, but we always stick together. And yes, that's why we are here now.

"The win against Arsenal gave us a boost. We showed them that we are there and that the season is not finished yet."

On the creative influence of Rayan Cherki, Reijnders said: "He is a great player. And yes, sometimes he's a bit crazy, but that's what makes him so special, and what helps us as a team as well. I hope he can keep going with it."

Listen to the full interview here

Manchester City are closely monitoring Feyenoord's Dutch full-back Givairo Read, 19, but Bayern Munich are also keen. (Sky Sports, external)

Juventus are keeping tabs on City midfielder Bernardo Silva as they look to to overhaul their squad in the summer. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aston Villa are the latest Premier League club to show an interest in Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford. The 23-year-old, who was signed last summer but was almost immediately followed to the club by Gianluigi Donnarumma, should be available. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Freddie Pye
Fan writer

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Manchester City are finding their stride at the perfect time and it's the most daunting of warnings being issued simultaneously to those of an Arsenal persuasion.

Mikel Arteta's side stumbled and Pep Guardiola's players pounced and at the heart of that deadly punch was Rayan Cherki, who grabbed the Chelsea game by the scruff of its neck to take all three points.

Chelsea frustrated and on numerous occasions threatened to do their London rivals a favour in the first half on Sunday, but it was City who stood firm, albeit whilst not creating too much themselves.

By the start of the second half, there was a new-found urgency in the way City were operating. It was relentless, free-flowing and a clear desperation to find goals in abundance. Much of that masterplan saw the ball fed to Cherki at every opportunity, with the French magician viewed as the key to breaking down a stubborn Chelsea rearguard.

All too often over a 10-year period, we would speak of Kevin De Bruyne's ability to find a pass and a space to unlock a defence that many others simply could not do. And in the 22-year-old "maverick", Hugo Viana and City may have found a similar architect.

One inch-perfect, sweeping ball into the penalty area found Nico O'Reilly for the first, before a mesmerising dribble across the face of the Chelsea 18-yard box and the narrowest of openings to find Marc Guehi gave City a crucial two-goal advantage.

It's certainly too early to say we've found the perfect De Bruyne replacement and if we're being entirely honest, nobody can come close to directly replicating the Belgian's achievements.

But Cherki is his own man, a refreshing entry into the Premier League bringing true freedom and creative magic just as the English top flight finds itself in danger of falling back into the trap of being known for brute force, physicality and in some ways overstepping the mark from set-pieces to win football matches.

The Premier League need Cherki, as much as City need Cherki if they are to win the title.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

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Broadcaster and Manchester City fan Natalie Pike says she believes "anything can happen" between now and the end of the season as the fight for the Premier League title comes to a head this weekend.

League leaders Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium off the back of a disappointing defeat to Bournemouth, which leaves them six points ahead of second-placed City, who also have a game in hand.

On the idea that this could be a title-deciding game, Pike, speaking on BBC 5 Live Breakfast, said: "I don't think anything is that simple in football. Anything can happen - the old cliche. I think realistically that's likely what will happen but City still have some tough games.

"I'm not getting too far ahead. We've got to go away to Bournemouth and we saw what Bournemouth did to Arsenal. We've got to go away to [Crystal] Palace, which we don't even know when the date is yet. That's going to get squeezed in.

"If we get to the FA Cup final, then that's going to be a midweek with another game as well. I don't think it's quite as simple as that [whoever wins will win the league], but I think it's likely."

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Former England captain Wayne Rooney says Manchester City "will have the edge" psychologically in the Premier League title race.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, he said City "know how to win the title" and "have a manager who knows how to do it".

"I think City will have the edge on that, just purely the manager and players they've got. They will be able to stay a little calmer than the Arsenal players," said Rooney.

"They will be worried because when you go on a run and lose a few games, you start thinking 'where's the next goal, the next win going to come from?' That negative mindset really has an impact on your performance."

Manchester City beat Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday to take advantage of Arsenal slipping up with a 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday.

Rooney said that whoever wins Sunday's "title decider" in Manchester will be favourites to win the league.

He added that he thinks a draw will be a "good point" for Arsenal, who may need to "play dirty".

Rooney added Mikel Arteta's side must "be tough to break down, make sure there's no gaps between the lines and try to hit them on the break".

He added: "Whether the fans like that type of football or not, they have to do anything to stop City winning. They need to be resilient enough to stop City from scoring."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Paul: Sorry, but Chelsea are simply not good enough under Rosey! I am sick of being bored rigid by his style of play - we should remove the lion from our badge and put a crab on it as we always seem to be going sideways with pathetic, pointless possession play!

Stan: Clubs buy players to improve the team, whereas Chelsea have done the opposite and made the team worse. It's difficult being a Chelsea supporter this season.

David: Same old problems - many chances missed - leaking defence. The manager promises improvements. When? You cannot put an inexperienced Premier League manager in a supposedly first-class team.

James: Based on this, Chelsea don't deserve to play Champions League football next season. Qualifying is going to be a tall order now given the points gap down to 11th and other teams are coming into form just as Chelsea continue to falter.

Manchester City fans

Eamonn: A re-run of the League Cup Final really, with the bonus of an extra goal. Great to see Kovacic on the pitch again and let's hope O'Reilly's substitution was only precautionary. One game at a time, City.

David: Outstanding patience and a killer instinct from City. They'll win the Premier League from here. Arsenal will be shaking in their shoes before next weekend's showdown at the Etihad.

John: I don't think Pep will have needed to rant at half-time, the players will have known how sloppy and careless they were with the ball in the first half. Second half, they moved up a couple of gears with Chelsea visibly shrinking in confidence and ideas. A good performance by all the players, which will only add to their current level of confidence. Let's hope that Nico O'Reilly is not badly injured.

Mark: This was a vital win for City after Arsenal's defeat on Saturday. Next Sunday will be interesting!

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Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison believes Manchester City attacker Rayan Cherki is "one of the signings of the season", adding that the 22-year-old "talks the talk but also walks the walk".

Cherki created Manchester City's first two goals in their 3-0 win over Chelsea, taking his tally to 10 assists this season - the second-most behind Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes.

"Rayan Cherki is a player," Morrison said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "I've said many times that he is a maverick.

"He is one of those players you would pay good money to watch. He talks the talk but he also walks the walk. He is a fantastic player.

"Pep Guardiola bigged him up saying, 'some players play at 100mph but he knows when to slow it down and when to play at his pace'.

"He also likes to do kick-ups and juggle the ball. We saw that in the second half against Chelsea and in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.

"If I was playing against him, I would kick him and put him in Row Z! I don't know if I would even be able to catch him, but I would try.

"He is a super, super-talented individual. He is a joy to watch. For me, he is one of the signings of the season.

"I'm saying all this when he is just going through the gears at the moment, he is that fantastic."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Plus listen to more on Man City as Jeremy Doku reacts to Sunday's win

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side's win at Chelsea: "First half was not bad, especially on the right side we had no movement and don't attack space. Second half we made a fantastic three goals."

On Nico O'Reilly: "The Carabao Cup final, two goals, today, he is always there. He has incredible physicality, stays with Estevao and other top wingers."

On next weekend's game against Arsenal: "It's important because we are six points behind them, if they beat us it's over, if we draw also.

"Now we prepare, relax, don't listen much. Before the Carabao Cup final we were underdogs. We have to be calm, prepare, because Arsenal is an extraordinary team. We have that game, but it's game-by-game.

"We have long weeks to recover. Its a pity we could not be better in Champions League. The Premier League is about how you grow the team. The team feel fresh, everyone is there. We have six games left and FA Cup semi-final. It doesn't look much, but it is a lot. Many things are going to happen."

• Listen to Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Manchester City defender Marc Guehi, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the win: "I was a tough game. There are no easy games in the Premier League. First half, we did well in spells. You could see how good Chelsea were in their shape and they were making things difficult for us.

"But a lot of players stepped up in the second half and really grateful for the win."

On Nico O'Reilly: "It's amazing seeing his development and how fantastic he's been doing for the team and himself. But it's been a fantastic team performance today. Nico did well but Rayan [Cherki] and Erling [Haaland] worked their socks off too - every single player did well today."

On his goal: "Fortunately, I am playing with a lot of top players. So you never know when the ball is going to come, so you have to be ready always. I think I did OK with the finish."

On scoring against his former club Chelsea: "I wouldn't be here without this football club. I am eternally grateful to every single member of the staff who helped me in the academy and the club for picking me up at such a young age, to Frank Lampard and Jody Morris for giving me my debut when I was here. It's nice to be back."

On facing Arsenal: "It's going to be a big game. But the most important thing for us is to recover and focus on training this week."

Did you know?

• Manchester City completed 344 passes in the first half of this match, the most by a visiting team at Stamford Bridge in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game on record (since 2003-04).

• With two more today, Manchester City's Rayan Cherki became the first player to register 10+ assists in their debut Premier League season since Dimitri Payet in 2015-16 (12).

• Manchester City's Marc Guéhi is the first player to play twice away to Chelsea in the same Premier League season and keep a clean sheet in both games, also playing in Crystal Palace's 0-0 draw on matchday one.

Pundits Pat Nevin and Ben Foster join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Newcastle United

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa

• Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham

• Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City