Manchester City’s David Silva did not travel with the squad to Ukraine for the club’s match midweek, and Pep Guardiola confirmed Silva is a doubt for the Manchester Derby. More likely, however, Guardiola is playing mind games with Jose Mourinho.
Guardiola dislikes press conferences. A man of his intensity is always likely to be annoyed at having to respond to unoriginal and repetitive questions. Sometimes it shows, but this season the Manchester City boss has rarely let the mask slip. Winning helps.
Ahead of City’s match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Guardiola made an appearance with Yaya Toure to update the media. David Silva’s absence in the squad was noteworthy, and the Spanish tactician confirmed his countryman may miss Sunday’s clash with Manchester United. He then proceeded to swat away any further questions on the subject.
Perhaps Silva really is a doubt for the derby. More likely, however, Guardiola is bluffing ahead of the Manchester derby. He has already started the mind games with Jose Mourinho earlier in the week, trying to goad his archenemy into a more attacking game plan.
Indeed, Mourinho has already called out Guardiola’s comments as less than truthful.
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Derbies are always important to the participants, but this week’s clash is so much bigger than local bragging rights. A victory for the Citizens disheartens the chasing pack, and solidifies their grip on the Premier League title
With Mourinho working out how to fill a Paul Pogba shaped hole in midfield, Guardiola’s comments add another variable. Will Guardiola replace Silva with Ilkay Gundogan or his namesake Bernardo Silva? Will it be a totally new system? Or is this a double bluff?
Silva’s form is a bellwether for that of Manchester City’s. While Kevin De Bruyne makes the headlines, Silva has quietly kept his side ticking over. His numbers are up almost across the board from last season. The little Spaniard is even winning headers. He has already recorded more assists at the beginning of December than the whole of last season. No one has quite figured out how to stop him this campaign.
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United fans might hope Silva is absent this weekend, but it will be a great shame for the neutral if he misses out. The biggest occasion deserves the best players, and his absence would deprive the game of his quiet magic. Expect David Silva to start on Sunday.