Manchester City were heading for another penalty shoot out in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Chelsea, but
Bernardo Silva scored deep in the second half to calm nerves at the Etihad Stadium.
On Wednesday, Silva missed from the spot during City’s Champions League semi final clash against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. Real Madrid had the last laugh and Silva said up to the game against Chelsea he has had little sleep.
He said: “Emotionally, it’s our job, it’s football. Yeah, it was tough. First night I didn’t sleep much, the second night you sleep a bit better. The third night you sleep almost the whole night, but it is what it is. It’s football, it’s our profession, and we have to deal with those emotions.”
Silva received criticism for his decision to strike his penalty down the centre of the goal. “I had two options,” he said. “I had in my mind one of the sides, I’m not going to tell you which, and the middle. I was waiting. I wanted to [take] the second or the third penalty to see the reaction from the keeper in the first or the first two penalties. And he moved early [for the first], that’s why I thought the middle was good because in moments of pressure the keepers 99% of the times they move. But he chose not to move and fair play to him – well done. And yeah, it is what it is.”
The 29-year-old stated that the delay he experienced in having to wait to take his kick was not a factor. “For me no, because my decision was made, I was going to shoot the penalty in the middle,” he said.
Silva was grateful for the reaction of the team. “It’s like a family, like brothers, the way we support each other when someone misses. It’s unbelievable and the guys were unbelievable with me this week,” he said.
