Silva is the secret of our success says Pep
PEP Guardiola says David Silva may be diminutive in stature and shy in personality but, when it comes to courage, he is a giant. The Spanish midfielder is close to signing a one-year extension that will tie him to Manchester City until 2020. Guardiola said Silva, 32, already deserves to be regarded as a club legend for his part City’s transformation.
Silva’s form has tended to go under the radar. But Guardiola, who tried to sign Silva when he was Barcelona manager only to be outbid by City, said: “When you talk about courage, there are in guys who are strong, jump for headers, make tackles but when there are troubles they don’t want the ball.
“I like guys who are strong but I like more the guys who are not afraid to play all the time who, when you are in a bad situation, step forward. That’s David.
“I pay a lot of attention to how players react in bad moments. He looks skinny and like he doesn’t run too much but he’s never injured and every three games he’s fit, he’s there.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly or an important game, he’s ready. He’s a bit serious about life and a little bit shy but what I like about him is how competitive and aggressive he is in the duels when he is a guy who is more about technique and the pass.”
City’s remarkable 18-game winning run could be tested by Mauricio Pellegrino, who brings Southampton to the Etihad tonight on the back of a big win over Everton.
Pellegrino played alongside Guardiola in Barcelona’s 1999 La Liga-winning team and said: “As soon as I arrived there, Pep was asking for new ideas.
“He had a good reading of the game and this is something he has translated off the pitch. But I never imagined he could achieve so much as a manager.”