‘I didn’t sleep much’: Bernardo Silva admits missed penalty played on mind

Bernardo Silva scored Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final winner against Chelsea following sleepless nights caused by his penalty miss in Wednesday’s Champions League shootout defeat to Real Madrid.

Silva’s late strike on Saturday at Wembley took the holders into a second successive Cup final. Yet it came after the heartbreak of his failure in the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium, the tie going to spot-kicks after the game finished 1-1, with the aggregate score 4-4.

Silva aimed City’s second penalty straight down the middle, the Real goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, saved it, and the holders went on to lose the shootout 4-3. The midfielder was asked how difficult this was.

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.

The midfielder was less content at City having to play 72 hours after the Real game, echoing the complaints of Pep Guardiola. He said: “It looks like they [the authorities] don’t care because we’ve said it many times. It’s not about wanting to be favourites, it’s about health. I played 90 minutes. Me, Kevin [De Bruyne], Phil [Foden]. I wasn’t fine at all. I wasn’t fine. I’ll be honest, I was feeling my left hamstring and my right calf. This is not fair for Man City, for us. We represent England in these European competitions and it’s important for England, for this country.”

It is understood that the FA’s stance is that the needs of the clubs, local authorities, police and broadcasters have to be balanced and ties are scheduled collaboratively. Chelsea also have a rearranged game against Arsenal on Tuesday.