“He was incredibly stressed” – Body language expert analyses damning moment for Man City star in Real Madrid defeat | OneFootball

A body language expert has analysed the moment Bernardo Silva saw his penalty against Real Madrid comfortably saved by Los Blancos goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, as Real Madrid secured their ultimate revenge on Pep Guardiola’s side for the demolition job succumbed to last season.

A 1-1 draw in normal time at the Etihad Stadium was followed up by a stalemate across extra-time, before Antonio Rudiger would strike the fate-sealing penalty to send Manchester City out of their second competition this season.

In a crushing shoot-out failure, Bernardo Silva was among those to have seen a spot-kick stopped by Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, sending his effort straight down the middle of the goal, only for his opponent to remain stood and prevent with ease.

Speaking after Manchester City’s defeat to Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage, body language expert Darren Stanton has revealed Bernardo Silva was “incredibly stressed” in the lead up to his missed penalty kick in the all-important shoot-out.

“The crowd might have been giving Bernardo Silva time to compose himself by holding onto the ball, but it might have come across as a sign of disapproval from the fans. This would have caused a more stressful wait for the player before taking his penalty,” explained Stanton.

“It reminds me of someone having a kick-about in a park, it lacked any focus, or passion, get up and go. The tongue is the most significant gesture, it’s got several connotations depending on the context. Kids will do it for fun, sticking their tongues out.

“But one of the main reasons people do it is when people try to concentrate and focus. He was sticking his tongue out in a pacifying gesture. He was incredibly stressed under incredible pressure. But in slow motion, everything was wrong about the whole thing.”

Stanton continued, while speaking to OLBG, by admitting that Bernardo Silva was having a “meltdown” alongside a “crisis of confidence” in the lead up to his kick. He explained, “We don’t know what he was thinking, but from a body language point of view, he’s having a bit of a meltdown.

“It’s a crisis of confidence. The facial expression with his eyes just seemed to go into space, and the tongue is the main thing. He was trying to concentrate but at the same time, the way his tongue stuck out, he was trying to reassure himself. That’s what children do.

“For some reason, in that moment, he’s had a complete meltdown regarding his confidence in his abilities and craft.”

Manchester City will now turn all their attentions over to their remaining ambitions this season, with a domestic double still in sight consisting of the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup.

City travel to Wembley on Saturday evening as they take on Chelsea in the semi-final stage of the latter competition, while a top-flight title battle with Arsenal and Liverpool remains ongoing with the Etihad club’s fate in their hands.