Bernardo Silva daring to dream as he bids to 'make history' with Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola refused to discuss the prospect of an unprecedented quadruple in his press conference following the exhilarating 3-2 FA Cup win over Swansea City.

But the situation was very different in the away team’s dressing room at the Liberty Stadium, judging by City midfielder Bernardo Silva’s upbeat post-match conversation with a small group of newspaper reporters as he mentioned creating “something special” and making “history”.

“All the players feel that this season can be special,” Silva, 24, said. “Last season was special in the way we won the Premier League; this season can be special because we've already won one competition, we’re still playing for three.

“We can win three or lose all of them as well, so it will be very tough, so yeah, we know that the last month-and-a-half will be very tough. It will be crucial, to make something special and to try to write an important page in the history of this club, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Silva and his colleagues could be forgiven for feeling bullish after a jolt in Swansea.

They were on the brink of a humbling FA Cup exit as they trailed the Championship side until the Portuguese international kept their four-pronged push for honours on track, scoring City’s first before setting up Sergio Aguero’s late winner.

“It’s very important to win these kinds of games as well, not only the games you win four or five-nil, but these games where you have to show character,” Silva added.

“We could have been out after arriving at half-time losing 2-0, so we have to keep our focus, knowing our opponents are very strong. In the FA Cup semi-finals it’s one game, anything can happen against very strong opponents.

“The Champions League is probably the most difficult competition in Europe, very difficult to win as well. The Premier League, very tight this season with Liverpool in a great momentum as well, so no competition will be easy.

“Our opponents have made it very complicated for us to win trophies this season, but we've been doing quite well and we'll try to keep the momentum.”

In giving the visitors a run for their money, Swansea will have given City’s rivals hope that they can be halted as they aim to add FA Cup and Premier League glory to their League Cup as well as a first Champions League title.

Momentum appears to be on City’s side but then again Silva openly acknowledges there is room for improvement between now and the end of the season.

“There are no perfect teams, so we try to improve, we know that in some moments of the game we’re not as good as some teams, and we try to improve that,” Silva said.

“Obviously we cannot be perfect in all moments, but so far this season, to still be in the four competitions - three left, because one we’ve won already - it's pretty good. It means we've been doing a pretty good job, but we still have to improve a few things and we'll try to do it.”

His starring role in the quarter-final win capped a momentous week for Silva after he signed a new contract at the Etihad Stadium.

“It was a special moment for me, I'm very happy to stay here, to sign a new deal with Man City, and to stay until 2025,” said the former Monaco player.

“To be honest it was quite easy to sign a new deal because I’ve been very happy to be here for the last season-and-a-half, a little bit more than that. It has been fantastic, I've been living the dream here, so it was a very easy decision.”

While Silva and his club colleagues head off on international duty, Guardiola will enjoy some time off following a hectic schedule. “I’m tired,” he said. “It is what it is. I prefer to be in that position honestly. But tomorrow you will not find me in Manchester, I assure you.”

Yet, with most of his first team squad due to represent their countries, he will keep a close eye on events elsewhere: “I will pray they come back fit. That is what I want. They have to go there, play with their national team, enjoy, help their own national teams but hopefully they will come back fit like they are now.”