Article by Adrian Duţă – Published Tuesday, March 17, 2026 11:18 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, March 17, 2026 11:30 p.m.
Costel Pantilimon, champion with Manchester City in 2012 and 2014, commented on the incredible phase in the first half of the duel between “citizens” and Real Madridin the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.
In the 20th minute of the match at the Etihad, Bernardo Silva was eliminated by Clement Turpin. The Portuguese elbowed a ball off the goal line. Although he tried to mask the gesture, having his hands behind his back, the City captain did not escape. Costel Pantilimon believes that Silva acted on instinct.
Costel Pantilimon: “I think it was an instinct in Bernardo Silva”
“You can't help it in certain moments. I remember Suarez, who wanted to save a ball. There was no instinct there, he wanted to do it.
I think there was an instinct here. He also tried to hold his hand in a way to mask a possible henchman. You can see that the elbow is out of the body and you are helping him”, said Costel Pantilimon, at GSP Live Special.
Costel Pantilimon: “City is trying to rebuild”
The former City goalkeeper also spoke about the Manchester side's season, one in which the Citizens have a second chance at the title, sitting 8 points behind Arsenal.
“City is trying to rebuild. Players left who had an important status at the club. I'm talking about Mahrez, Ederson, De Bruyne. The players who came in did not live up to Guardiola's expectations.
I mean Reijnders, Doku, Khusanov. It's not that team yet. From next season it will be different. I just hope Guardiola stays. He has the recipe to make the team win trophies,” said Pantilimon.
