Bernardo Silva has warned Manchester City’s rivals that the Premier League champions are even better than they were last season and are eyeing more records.
Pep Guardiola’s side re-wrote the history books in 2017-18 as they swept to the top-flight crown in style.
Their haul of 100 points, 32 wins and 106 goals were all new highs for a fiercely competitive division that they made it look very easy to conquer.
City are back on the march this term, with no defeats suffered across 14 outings to date, and Silva believes a settled squad can continue to raise the bar.
The Portuguese playmaker said after a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth: “It’s almost the same squad with some improvements, like Riyad [Mahrez], and more time together.
“So, yes, we might be a bit better. We want to break the records of last season, but it’s not easy.”
City’s cause continues to be aided by the high standards set by key men.
They have been able to maintain a remarkable level of consistency, with Guardiola able to bring the best out of those at his disposal.
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Among those he has firing on all cylinders at present is Raheem Sterling, with the England international enjoying another productive campaign in which he has committed to a new contract.
The 23-year-old was back among the goals against Bournemouth, taking him to nine for the season, and there is a feeling that there is even more to come from an in-form forward.
Silva said of his club colleague: “I hope he can get more than he got last season. He has been in fantastic form.
“He is so aggressive with the ball and so focused on the goal. If he continues like this he will help us win some titles.”
Sterling netted 23 times across all competitions in 2017-18, with that return seeing him more than double his previous personal best from spells at Liverpool and City.
