Manchester City: Preseason squad rankings

10 of 11

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 26: David Silva of Manchester City in action during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid at Etihad Stadium on April 26, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

2. David Silva

Silva has been brilliant for Manchester City since arriving six years ago from Valencia. As he has been most of those years, he’s a top player at the club. He’s a creative, tidy midfielder. His duo with Aguero has been brilliant at the club.

The Spaniard was only able to make 22 starts in the league last season but recorded an assist every other start, with 11. Tremendous return.

Silva is the kind of player who sees what others don’t and has the ability to execute. City has been a perfect club to cultivate his abilities. He’s been allowed to play whenever he’s fit and run the team from the no.10 with limited defensive responsibilities if any. For a baller like him, that’s a perfect situation. He’s certainly repaid City for their faith throughout any manager he’s been under.

For Guardiola, Silva will be his Andres Iniesta. Silva will thrive in Guardiola’s system. He could play in the no. 10 or as a wide creative player with a fullback overlapping him. Wherever he is, as long as he’s on the ball often, as City will be in possession regularly, he’ll be fantastic.

When teams sit back to weather the attacks and the pressure, as most teams have in the past against star-studded Manchester City anyway, Silva is the guy to break teams down in tight spaces.

Silva will always be towards this end of the squad rankings. Coming into the season he’s definitely the club’s #2. The 30 year old’s game should age well as long as he stays on the field, so we’ve got some more years of Silva at the top of his games.

Next: 1. Sergio Aguero

Home/Manchester City