Silva: Polished Diamond
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CITY v BURNLEY | OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME | 02.01.2017 | £3.00 PROGRAMME | 02.01.2017 BURNLEY | OFFICIAL MATCHDAY SILVA: POLISHED DIAMOND 38008EYEU_UK_TA_MCFC MatDay_210x148w_Jan17_EN_P_Inc_#150.indd 1 21/12/16 8:03 pm CONTENTS 4 The Big Picture 52 Fans: Your Shout 6 Pep Guardiola 54 Fans: Supporters 8 David Silva Club 17 The Chaplain 56 Fans: Junior 19 In Memoriam Cityzens 22 Buzzword 58 Social Wrap 24 Sequences 62 Teams: EDS 28 Showcase 64 Teams: Under-18s 30 Access All Areas 68 Teams: Burnley 36 Short Stay: 74 Stats: Match Tommy Hutchison Details 40 Marc Riley 76 Stats: Roll Call 42 My Turf: 77 Stats: Table Fernando 78 Stats: Fixture List 44 Kevin Cummins 82 Teams: Squads 48 City in the and Offi cials Community Etihad Stadium, Etihad Campus, Manchester M11 3FF Telephone 0161 444 1894 | Website www.mancity.com | Facebook www.facebook.com/mcfcoffi cial | Twitter @mancity Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak | Chief Executive Offi cer Ferran Soriano | Board of Directors Martin Edelman, Alberto Galassi, John MacBeath, Mohamed Mazrouei, Simon Pearce | Honorary Presidents Eric Alexander, Sir Howard Bernstein, Tony Book, Raymond Donn, Ian Niven MBE, Tudor Thomas | Life President Bernard Halford Manager Pep Guardiola | Assistants Rodolfo Borrell, Manel Estiarte Club Ambassador | Mike Summerbee | Head of Football Administration Andrew Hardman Premier League/Football League (First Tier) Champions 1936/37, 1967/68, 2011/12, 2013/14 HONOURS Runners-up 1903/04, 1920/21, 1976/77, 2012/13, 2014/15 | Division One/Two (Second Tier) Champions 1898/99, 1902/03, 1909/10, 1927/28, 1946/47, 1965/66, 2001/02 Runners-up 1895/96, 1950/51, 1988/89, 1999/00 | Division Two (Third Tier) Play-Off Winners 1998/99 | European Cup-Winners’ Cup Winners 1970 | FA Cup Winners 1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011 Runners-up 1926, 1933, 1955, 1981, 2013 | League Cup Winners 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016 Runners-up 1974 | FA Charity/Community Shield Winners 1937, 1968, 1972, 2012 | FA Youth Cup Winners 1986, 2008 3 THE BIG PICTURE Celebrating what proved to be the winning goal against Arsenal, scored by Raheem Sterling. PHOTOGRAPH: MARTIN RICKETT/PA OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 5 PEP GUARDIOLA Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a very between winning and losing at the top Happy New Year and welcome Burnley level. We probably created more chances manager Sean Dyche and all his staff to against Chelsea but lost that game. the Etihad Stadium. We know Burnley quite well having played them at the We took great confidence from the three end of November. On that occasion points against Arsenal and you could see at Turf Moor we won 2-1 but it was a it in training and in the game at Hull. We tough match and we expect the same have now won seven games away from again today. the Etihad. In such a competitive league that is something to build on and we know Due to the holiday printing schedules, I am we can still improve more. writing these programme notes before the game against Liverpool that took place at At Hull the home side put us under Anfield on New Year’s Eve, but I can say pressure for 10 minutes in the second that I was pleased with what we achieved half but we dealt with it well and came in the three games leading into that match. back stronger. In terms of controlling the Defeating Watford, Arsenal and Hull City match in the first half, we played well but to collect nine points was excellent and we were not aggressive enough in the keeping clean sheets in two of those final third of the pitch and didn’t make as matches very important. many chances on goal as we could have done with the possession that we had. Of course, the win against Arsenal at We corrected that in the second half. home was the game most people were talking about. It was a 90 minutes when Now we start 2017 with a busy week that we showed our personality coming from a begins with today’s match against Burnley goal down to beat a big rival. That is never in the Premier League and ends on Friday an easy thing to do but in the end we were evening with the FA Cup tie away at West deserved winners. Ham United. Gabriel Jesus will also join us in the next few days ,and we have the I congratulate the fans for that win, too. Champions League Round of 16 to come In the second half they roared us forward next month so this year will be an exciting and created a great atmosphere. I am sure time for supporters. they were delighted with the victory. That was a game that showed the fine margins Enjoy the game. “I congratulate the fans for the win against Arsenal. In the second half they roared us forward and created a great atmosphere” OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 7 SILVA STREAK OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME City’s magical playmaker has been weaving his spell for the Blues since 2010 – and says he still has plenty to do in sky blue… INTERVIEW: DAVID CLAYTON/JOHN EDWARDS IMAGES: VICTORIA HAYDN/PA If there’s been one constant David Silva can For medals won, goals created, games claim during his time with City it is consistency. played and goals scored, Silva has earned From making his debut away to Spurs in 2010 a place among the very best players to ever to the last home game against Arsenal, the represent Manchester City. In years to come Blues’ number 21 has been the beating heart of he’ll be referred to as a legend, and in a sport the City team, earning him the nickname where that title is bandied around a little too “El Mago” – The Magician. frequently, his will be fully deserved. To others, he’s the conductor that dictates Silva keeps things ticking and his vision seems the tempo of the team. It’s hard to imagine a to be almost one step ahead of the opposition. City midfield that doesn’t include the former He always knows when a challenge from an Valencia star, but it will happen one day as it opposition player is coming in – and how to does with all players. For his legion of admirers, spin out of trouble. Above all, he keeps things the hope is that that day is a long way off. simple when necessary. “I feel comfortable and I hope to play many more games and that things go well for me and the club” 9 Against Watford he made his 200th Premier League appearance for the Blues and by the Arsenal game, he’d clocked up 281 appearances in all competitions – with the magic 300 mark perhaps just a few months away. He could have remained in Spain and played for any of the top Spanish clubs, but he chose to test himself in what many believe to be the toughest league in the world. While other La Liga talents have shone on their own soil, few can claim to have had the impact Silva has on foreign turf. His seventh season in Manchester is already looking like one of his best as artistry is allowed to breathe and blossom under Pep Guardiola – and Silva admits he is a happy man. “I feel good, happy,” he smiles. “That I’ve played so many games also means I’m getting a bit older now, but I’m happy here, I feel comfortable and I hope to play many more games and that things go well for me and the club.” One of Guardiola’s rules this season has been that the most senior player in the team wears the captain’s armband. That has meant that when regular skipper Vincent Kompany hasn’t been able to play, other fi rm favourites like Pablo Zabaleta or Silva have captained the side, much to the delight of the City fans. Leading the team has been a source of great pride for the boy from Arguineguín, Gran Canaria. It’s also an honour he’s enjoyed at international level, too, where he has so far won 109 caps in the red shirt and blue of Spain. “I feel proud of having worn the armband, but I have always said that after so many years in a club or with your national team, even if you OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME “He’s an exceptional manager and I’m thoroughly enjoying playing football under him” Silva on Guardiola 11 don’t wear it, you feel important and you try to help the younger players. “And that’s how I feel now – I want to help the younger players the same way I was helped when I arrived here or when I started at Valencia, or wherever I’ve been. People have helped me and I’m trying to do the same for others now. You always want to help the team in whatever way you can.” It’s no wonder so many of the Blues’ younger players cite Silva as a major influence or regularly benefit from his advice. In recent times, Denis Suarez (now with Barcelona), Manu Garcia, Aleix Garcia and Pablo Maffeo have all thanked Silva for his simple, constructive advice. But Silva admits he’s still learning, too, and the influence and ideas of Guardiola have meant he is allowed to express himself perhaps more than ever before – which could be bad news for the rest of City’s Premier League and Champions League opponents. “With a coach like Pep, you learn a lot, to be honest.