SILVA: WE WILL BE DEAD MEN WALKING IF WE CAN’T SCORE AT THE ETIHAD
Raheem Sterling to score first MARCO SILVA believes Everton must be ambitious against Manchester City because if they do not score they have no chance at the Etihad.
So many sides have gone to Manchester and faced the champions with a sense that they are beaten even before kick-off.
But the Toffees boss insists his team won’t be the same, for the simple reason that he knows Pep Guardiola’s side always have the capacity to score, so if you don’t attack you are beaten.
Silva (above) explained: “We will have a similar mentality to that we showed at Anfield. Each game you have to put the same ambition on the pitch, even if you know in some moments they will control the game.
“I don’t like to concede goals but when you play against City they will have a chance to score. You have to accept they have that capacity – not just against us but against all the clubs in the world.
“So my feeling – my plan – is when you play against City if you don’t score at least one goal you have a low chance to achieve a good result. When we have the ball we have to try to play our game to try to create the chance to score.”
Silva is a realist though, he knows today’s lunchtime showdown is a real test for his side, and he accepts City are the best outfit in English football – if not Europe – at this time.
But he does believe their attacking football exposes some weaknesses. And he will drill into Everton the fact that they must retain the belief to exploit it.
“I think we play against the best Premier League team, the incredible high quality they have, the fantastic football they play at times – but they have some weakness as well,” added Silva.
“We will try to take advantage of that in some specific moments of the match as well.
“We know City take some risk in their game as well, they play offensive football and some moments they will obligate us to do what we don’t like, to run back to the ball.
“So when we have the ball we have to try our game and try to create chances to score and play with ambition in some part of the game.”