Premier League 2018/19: 5 unsung heroes of the season 

#1. Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva has proved to be Manchester City's MVP this season.

Manchester City fans have seen some splendid performances this season, with stand-out players such as Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane running the show again for the runaway champions of last season. Pep Guardiola’s deadly trio already has 37 goals this season, only one less than Liverpool’s lightning front-three of Salah, Mane, and Firmino (38).

Amidst the talk about statistics, fans and pundits, what is often unnoticed is the contribution by Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder has been stellar for City this season after a slow start to life in Manchester. Silva had a brilliant 16/17 season with Monaco where he managed to win the Ligue 1 over current champions Paris-Saint German and also played a key role in eliminating City from that season’s Champions League Round of 16. Having joined City for a meager 30 million pounds, the 23-year-old midfielder was a peripheral figure at the Etihad in his first season, reduced to substitute appearances.

This was so because the dynamic duo of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva were playing a different ballgame altogether last season. This season, however, with David Silva aging and De Bruyne struggling with fitness, the Portuguese has become the main man in City’s midfield. City fans tout Bernardo as the perfect successor to his namesake David Silva.

Bernardo Silva has all the capacity in the world to fill the shoes of Manchester City veteran David Silva.

Versatile, quick and intelligent, Bernardo has covered the most ground in the Premier League this season. His performance in the all-important 2-1 victory against Liverpool at home in early January created a buzz with the tireless midfielder setting a Premier League record of covering the most distance (13.7km) in a single game.

Silva’a natural position is on the left side of City’s midfield three but at times, even takes the RW position when needed. In certain games, Pep has even deployed the midfielder in a false nine role. The give-it-all attitude and humble demeanor make Bernardo a loved figure in the dressing room with City players and even Pep repeatedly showing their love for the Portuguese. Bernardo Silva is a player of the present and the future, and we are lucky that we will be able to witness him for years to come.