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One of the biggest hopes for a Manchester City victory in the Premier League match away from home against Tottenham Hotspur is a great performance from David Silva. El Mago has played amazing football under Pep Guardiola, and he needs to maintain his form for the Citizens to stay perfect in the league with a win at White Hart Lane.
Silva's great football is thanks in large part to his new tactical role under Guardiola. David used to play out wide or behind the striker for Manuel Pellegrini in previous years, but he became a central midfielder who helps in the buildup and makes plays from deeper positions than before. That new tactical role has clearly suited Silva's best qualities, and he has bossed the midfield in all of his appearances so far.
If he's able to do that again on Sunday, City are in a very good position to beat a strong Spurs team. But Silva is not taking the game for granted at all, and knows how tough the Tottenham challenge is. David discussed that and more topics in a good interview with the club's website, and here's some bits from that:
“It's true that I'm playing some steps further back sometimes because I have to help in the build-up – but Guardiola also gives me freedom to attack and be close to the rival goal, and create chances which is something that I really like..
“He gives me a lot of freedom and I'm very happy playing in this role.
“The way of playing the manager wants is to control the game, create chances in front of goal, control the rival team with the counter-attacks and be ready to neutralise that. We are doing great and I hope we can continue like that.
“We have played 11 games, we have won 10 and drawn one. The team stays confident, but now we have a game against Tottenham that we hope to win too.
“Every game here in the Premier League is a challenge. We already faced Manchester United away and it was a really tough match. Now we have to face Tottenham away as well which will be a very difficult match for us too.
“They are also a great team and I'm sure it will be difficult. In their stadium, they were better than us but here at the Etihad we played better – but in football, as you know, sometimes you can be lucky or not, so you can lose.
“Mauricio Pochettino is a great manager. He's doing great at Tottenham. Both last season and now this season as well they have started pretty well.
“We need to go there to try to win, and in the last few years, we have managed to play well at White Hart Lane. I hope this season we can play well too.”
Source: ManCity.com