Having arrived in English football in 2017, the Portugal international has been at the heart of two triumphant Premier League seasons for the Citizens
Bernardo Silva says he wants to enjoy a long tenure at Manchester City in the footsteps of club legends David Silva and Sergio Aguero - but admits that he would love to return to boyhood club Benfica at some point in his future.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Bernardo revealed that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss's reputation as a taskmaster is well-deserved - but claims he has given both him and the club the platform to prove they can continue to succeed for many years to come at the Etihad Stadium.
"Yeah, it's exhausting under Pep, there is no doubt about that," he stated. "But it's what we have to do.
"If you want to go for all the trophies season after season you need to have someone who pushes you day after day. Sometimes it's not easy but it's good to have someone who won't let you slacken off.'
"To know that, if you stay, you are going to fight for all the titles over the next 10 years gives you the willingness and ambition to stay; to try to do your best to be important at the club.
"I think that's why Sergio and David have stayed so long. I think we are now arriving at the stage where we can fight for European trophies as well.”
"I had to find another way to keep going," he added. "When I first left I wanted to prove them wrong. That did motivate me but not any more."
"I think what I did at Monaco and at City and for the national team, I think people in Portugal recognise that good work.
"I would like to go back to Benfica one day. There is a gap to fill. I was a young kid who had a dream of playing for his home club and not being able to fulfill that dream was hard. But I had to make some decisions and I don't regret it at all."