CROSS SILVA JUST CHAMPION
Euro glory ideal parting gift for David
MANCHESTER CITY bosses have been wracking their brains to come up with a suitable leaving present for David Silva.
Let’s be honest, it will have to be something special because Silva has played such a pivotal role in turning the club into an elite one that became the dominant force in English football.
Silva has won 14 major trophies and represented the club with distinction both on and off the field during a decade of brilliance at the Etihad.
In my opinion, the supremely-gifted but humble bloke has been the greatest foreign player to grace our game – and will be impossible to replace once he leaves City later this month.
The club like to make a song and dance when iconic figures depart. Even former manager Manuel Pellegrini was treated to a painting by LS Lowry when he left in 2016 – and he had been sacked to make way for Pep Guardiola.
But the problem is Covid-19 has deprived City of the chance to make a fuss of Silva before he leaves.
The prospect of him going without a proper farewell has to be right up there with the biggest footballing travesties.
As it stands, Silva will be invited to a game with his family once supporters are allowed back after the pandemic.
He will take a lap of honour and soak up the adulation, gratitude and respect he deserves.
But perhaps the greatest gift City could give Silva would be the chance to lift the Champions League trophy in Lisbon.
Forget Lowry, a framed picture of Silva clutching domestc football’s greatest prize would be the most fitting addition to all the fabulous memorabilia at his home in Gran
Canaria.
Conquer i n g
Europe remains the one thing even
Silva hasn’t achieved.
But if he can, it would cement his status as the cub’s greatestever player.
City must first get past
Real Madrid this week in the second leg of their
last-16 showdown at the
Etihad.
Guardiola’s men hold a
2-1 advantage from the first tie and are strong favourites to reach the mini knockout tournament in Portugal.
But all the pressure will be on City. The Spanish giants have already tucked away the La Liga title and have little to lose in Manchester.
Guardiola has not won the Champions League since 2011 and has only done so twice in a span of 12 years. Zinedine Zidane won it three times in three years.
Winning the European Cup remains the Holy Grail for City’s billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour. It’s why he appointed Guardiola in the first place.
But the clock continues to tick and we all know Pep won’t remain as City boss for too much longer.
This could be their best chance and, with a little help from the man himself, City owe it to Silva to get him to the final and provide him with the most magical gift of all.