At the end of each season, debates about the criteria for awarding individual titles always appear. Do players need to belong to a successful team to win the award? Or is their influence on the team the decisive factor, regardless of how many titles that team has achieved?
Those who believe that Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United deserves to be the Player of the Year clearly have their own views. If Arsenal wins the Premier League or Champions League, many opinions affirm that the most prestigious individual title should belong to one of their players, and Declan Rice is the name that is often mentioned.
However, for those who witnessed Rice encountering many difficulties against Rodri and Bernardo Silva at Wembley, that assessment may be controversial. However, a player cannot be judged in just one match, and Rice is still an excellent midfielder.
But Bernardo Silva's performance on the big stage, in the match that could be one of the last times he wore the Man City shirt, once again reminds of the Portuguese midfielder's unique talent. In the unlikely case that Man City overcomes Arsenal in the Premier League - or even completes the treble - Silva can completely receive votes for individual titles.
That would be completely deserved. When it comes to Silva's importance to Man City, he is clear evidence that statistics do not always fully reflect the value of a player.
In all competitions this season, Silva has played 42 matches, scored 3 goals and had 5 assists - numbers that are not too outstanding, especially when accompanied by 12 yellow cards and 1 red card. But that statistic cannot fully reflect his influence.
First of all, it is very difficult to find a player who is more persistent than Silva in the Premier League. Four of the seven longest distances a player travels in a Premier League match belong to the 31-year-old midfielder. Only 3 players have run more than 13 km in a match - Bruno Guimaraes, Silva and Pascal Gross. In the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, Silva continued to appear in all the hot spots on the field.
Once again, the numbers are still not enough to tell all of his talent. Silva rarely loses the ball, and very rarely misses passes in short situations. In the match against Arsenal, he coordinated smoothly with Rodri to control the game and look for opportunities.
There is reason for Guardiola to give the captain's armband to Silva. The latest Carabao Cup title - for the fifth time - helped him increase the total number of major titles won with Man City to 15 after 9 seasons.
Silva is an experienced and extremely cunning player. He is a master of tactical fouls, sometimes controversial, but it is also part of the Portuguese midfielder's effective playing style.
When the season ends and the contract expires, it is likely that Silva will leave Etihad. He may not win the Player of the Year award, but will definitely leave with the position of one of the greatest legends in Man City history.
