SILVA’S PURE GOLD
Guardiola talisman leaves West Ham faithful in awe
AS WEST HAM fans drifted towards the Westfield shopping complex, there were few murmurs of discontent.
The game was over as a contest by half-time as the superb David Silva, the elusive Raheem Sterling and the born-again striker Leroy Sane put the match beyond the reach of Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
There were no jeers as referee Andre Marriner blew the whistle to mark the end of 45 minutes in which City were breathtaking. Such scorelines have been known to prompt vicious comments towards the West Ham board. Not on Saturday. It was as if the home fans knew they had seen something special in a City team that could arguably become the most gifted to win the Premier League.
Come springtime and a more accurate assessment of how good this City side are will be possible. But it is beyond debate that they will take some catching.
There will be more exacting tests ahead, no question. But West Ham were demolished by the superb pass-and-move football that was a joy to watch.
At the hub was David Silva, who just seems to get better and better. Sterling destroyed Arthur Masuaku to the extent that the Congolese international was withdrawn at half-time by Pellegrini. ‘Anyone can have a bad game,’ Pellegrini said. No arguments there.
Kyle Walker was rampant in support of Sterling, while Fernandinho adds that touch of steel in midfield that is so essential.
Ederson looks secure in goal and Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte look a decent central-defensive partnership, even if West Ham did create too many openings for manager Pep Guardiola’s comfort.
But if they struggle, a glimpse at the City bench at the London Stadium will have provided evidence as to why Guardiola can feel confident taking on the punishing schedule ahead.
There — and not called on — were John Stones and Vincent Kompany. Not a bad back-up. Sitting alongside side them were Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus and the great potential of Phil Foden.
By the way, Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva — internationals all — were not even included at West Ham because of injury.
But their absence did not disrupt City’s rhythm. Guardiola would not let that happen.
And according to Fernandinho, there will be no let-up. ‘On the pitch, we have the quality... and the quality shows,’ he said, adding the suggestion that David Silva was ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’.
Only time will tell if City will emerge as the best ever. They have yet to win the Champions League — a feat achieved twice by rivals Manchester United, who also won the European Cup in its previous format.
But up front, City are lethal. And as West Ham defender Issa Diop conceded: ‘We gave them too much room.’
Diop’s team’s focus is games against teams that sit near the Hammers in the bottom half.
‘We must win those games,’ Diop said. Newcastle, Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Fulham will not be easy. But one consolation is that they will be nowhere near the level of Manchester City.
Very few — if any — are at the moment.
WEST HAM (4-4-2): Fabianski 6; Zabaleta 6, Balbuena 5, Diop 6, Masuaku 5 (Cresswell 46); Diangana 6 (Hernandez 55), Rice 7, Obiang 5, Anderson 6 (Perez 68); Antonio 6, Arnautovic 6. Subs not used: Adrian, Carroll, Noble, Ogbonna. Booked: None.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-4-1): Ederson 7; Walker 7, Otamendi 7, Laporte 7, Delph 7; Fernandinho 7; Gundogan 7 (Foden 69), Sterling 7 (Mahrez 74), D Silva 8, Sane 7; Aguero 6 (Jesus 81). Subs not used: Muric, Kompany, Stones, Zinchenko.
Booked: None. Man of the match: David Silva. Referee: Andre Marriner. Attendance: 56,886.