David Silva will likely be given a glorious send-off by the Manchester City faithful when he leaves the club at the end of the season, but for now the Spanish veteran appears to be in Pep Guardiola’s bad books.
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The Daily Mail reported that the Manchester City manager chided the 33-year-old attacking midfielder after his 12-minute substitute appearance against Tottenham in August, saying: “David, you didn’t give us enough running. Where were the legs?”
The Daily Mail added that analysts had noted a decrease in Silva’s physical statistics towards the closing weeks of the 2017/18 season, in which he played 40 games.
The Spain international has been at the Etihad Stadium since 2010, winning 12 trophies in that time, and announced during the summer that he would leave Manchester City at the end of the current campaign, as per BBC.
Teenage midfielder Phil Foden is someone who will likely be seeking to emulate Silva in Manchester City’s line-up in the long-term, with the 19-year-old making just four appearances so far this season but scoring in last week’s Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. [via TransferMarkt]
These Manchester City fans on Twitter reacted to the news of Guardiola’s admonition of Silva by calling for Foden to come into the team:
If he wants running, then he should use foden, leave the man who is close to 35 alone.
— citiZen Adetunji..cZ (@cZrotot999) October 8, 2019
So why js he not playing Foden…How long is that lad going to sit and rot on the bench??
— Kwabena Agyapong (@eagyemanduah) October 8, 2019
Oh wow, if only we had a young talent from the academy with a similar playstyle to replace him.
— sn (@snfutbol) October 8, 2019
PHIL FODEN!
— andy howard (@moonie3131) October 8, 2019
I’d guess we shouldn’t play him as much. He’s started 8 out of 10 games so far this season, including, pointlessly, the Preston game. I love the fella, but if he can’t run as much…maybe play someone in the easier games that can and save him for the big ones? *cough* Foden
— Steven (@StevenMcinerney) October 8, 2019
They can’t find what’s right under their noses? pic.twitter.com/AInRBftnlA
— Ronan (@ronanpatlee) October 8, 2019
What did you make of Guardiola’s words to Silva after the Tottenham game? Do you think Foden is the long-term successor to the Spaniard at Manchester City? Have your say in the comments section below!
