Wear not celebrating this year

Pep wants to emulate the greats

League is so complicated. We have a desire to win again, again and again and we will try not to stop.” Liverpool won six league titles, two European Cups, two FA Cups and four League Cups in the Eighties, while in the Premier League era Ferguson’s United lifted the trophy in eight of the competition’s first 11 seasons. Time will tell whether City can create a similar winning legacy, but it is clear they are by some distance the best team in the current top flight. “Of course it is special when you win so many games,” said David Silva, a magician at the heart of City’s attack-minded side and scorer of two goals against Swansea. “Our confidence is high at the moment and we are very happy. We are playing really good football, the fans are enjoying it and we are happy for that. We go game by game to win.” At the Etihad tomorrow evening, Spurs’ Danny Rose insists he feels no jealousy as he prepares to face his old friend Kyle Walker. Rose’s uncle Mark Rankine negotiated Walker’s £54m move to City and £135,000-a-week salary, while Rose was left at Tottenham on less than half that amount and moaning about the wage structure and lack of ambition at the club. Subsequently, he has seen Walker re-establish himself as the best right-back in the league. “There’s no envy,” said Rose. “He’s got what he deserves and I wish him the best of luck – apart from when he plays against us.” Meanwhile, Southampton are bracing themselves for a January move from City for their £60m-rated defender Virgil van Dijk.