Bernardo Silva has hailed the importance of captain Vincent Kompany after his second-half winner against Leicester took Manchester City a step closer to the Premier League title.
There was a nervousness around the Etihad Stadium before Kompany's thunderous 30-yard winner in the 70th minute.
And Silva admitted he was surprised as anyone to see the ball hit the back of the net on Monday night.
He said: 'It was a difficult game against, in my opinion, one of the best teams in the Premier League, and I was delighted that we played the same way, from the back, from feet to feet.
'Our second half was better than the first – we were more aggressive with and without the ball. And then that strike from Vinny! It's not usual, but what a strike! And what a win for us.'
Kompany said he heard his team-mates saying 'don't shoot' as he ran up to shoot and Silva was one of those players.
He said: 'I was thinking 'Vinny, pass me the ball, pass me the ball' but then he just struck it and wow, what a goal.
'No-one was expecting that but our captain deserves it more than anyone, and hopefully that goal can get us closer to winning a title that would mean a lot to this club, as Man City have never won two titles in a row.'
Silva added: 'He's a man for the big games. Whenever you need him, he's always there. He doesn't feel the pressure. It doesn't matter to him – he likes the pressure, embraces it, and he gets even better for that.
'He is one of the biggest players this club has ever seen and I hope he can stay with us a few more years, of course. He's our captain and so important for us.
'If anyone deserves that goal, it's him. The way he works, what he means for the dressing room and the fans.
'It's not normal for a centre back to arrive at that point and strike that ball, so it's a moment you will remember.
'But it won't mean anything if we don't win the title, so we have to win on Sunday to make this goal mean something.
Kompany claimed that he often scores goals like that in training, but Bernardo disputed that, with a mischievous grin.
'Never, never, never, never, never! He always puts the ball in the stands!
'What a strike. if anyone deserved that goal its him. what a player for us, for this club. He gave us potentially the three points that could give us the title.
'I don't know what happened in his mind but the way he shot that ball was unbelievable and he got us the three points.
Kompany’s contract runs out in the summer, and his future is not set to be determined until after the FA Cup final on May 18, but Silva said he should stay for 'a few more years.'
He added: 'He's the biggest example. He's our captain. the way he trains, the way he gives us all the advice, the way he welcomed me when i arrived. Not only on the pitch but off the pitch too. His importance in the dressing room.
'What a player, what a captain and hopefully he can stay with us for a few more years.'