Manchester City's Bernardo Silva has claimed that the club's Champions League campaign won't be derailed by a possible ban from European competition.
Should they first overcome Real Madrid in August in the second leg of the last 16 fixture, City will fly out to Lisbon in the same month to take part in a 'mini-tournament' between themselves and the remaining clubs from this season's Champions League.
At this point, City will also be aware of whether or not they will participate in the competition for the next two years, as they learn whether they have successfully appealed through the Court of Arbitration for Sport against UEFA's punishment for the infringement of Financial Fair Play regulations.
Silva, however, has reassured City supporters that the players will not allow the issue of a potential European ban to get in the way of challenging for their first ever Champions League title.
“Of course, what happens with UEFA is an important matter. No one knows what is going to happen, so we must only think about what we can control now," the Portuguese playmaker said, via Daily Mirror.
"What we can control is to play the competition in the best possible way. We must put all of our energy into trying to win the Champions League.
"I think all of the players are with the club and support what they are saying. We will try to do our best this year and not worry about anything else.”
Silva added that the fact of the mini-tournament being held in his home town of Lisbon - after Istanbul was forced by the impact of COVID-19 to stand down as the host of the competition's final -has given him an added incentive to get his hands on the trophy.
“It is a special competition and it is going to be a unique event in my home city," he added.
“To fight for the title in my city would mean a lot because I missed out on the Euros four years ago when Portugal won the trophy and I was hoping to play in this summer’s tournament before the pandemic."
Source : 90min