Charlie Grace

Tue 30 September 2025 23:00, UK

Manchester City will head to France to take on Monaco in their second Champions League fixture of the season.

Man City’s 2-0 win over Napoli got Pep Guardiola’s side off to the perfect start in their Champions League campaign.

Savinho was given a new Man City contract in the week, and that may be a sign that the winger is due to start against Monaco.

Rodri and Rayan Cherki returned to Man City training in the days leading up to their trip to Monaco, so they may also play a part for Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola sings Bernardo Silva’s praises

One man who will be familiar with the surroundings at Stade Louis II will be former Monaco man Bernardo Silva.

Silva was an important part of the Monaco side that won Ligue 1 in 2016-17 alongside Fabinho, Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar.

Guardiola was complimentary of Silva in his pre-match press conference, saying: “He cannot do better as Man City captain. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever trained, a luxury for me to have him in these 10 years.

“An extraordinary player, intelligent, smart, ductile, can play in I don’t know how many positions. Really, really happy to have him and he accepted the role [of captain] alongside the other ones.”

Bernardo Silva plays a key role in Pep Guardiola’s changing Man City side

Man City are a team in transition under Guardiola, with a high number of key players having now left the club.

While Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson, amongst others, have departed from the Etihad Stadium, Silva has stayed put for Guardiola.

As Guardiola welcomed a host of new stars, with Tijjani Reijnders, Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri all joining the Cityzens, Silva has now become one of the leaders in the dressing room.

Silva has won eight league titles across his time at Man City, Benfica, and Monaco, and that experience will be crucial in the success Guardiola has with his new-look side.