As City embarked on the hunt for a maiden Premier League crown, Silva continued to shine. A match-winning goal against Arsenal in December returned Mancini’s men to the summit, and El Mago was back amongst the assists to help the Blues bounce back from a New Year’s Day reverse at Sunderland with an impressive January haul.
Defeats to Everton, Swansea and Arsenal looked to have ripped City’s title hopes to shreds with rivals United poised to sail to another title success. However, in Typical City fashion, the season would take the most dramatic of twists and Silva was an imperative cog in the machine, as Mancini’s men rallied to swing the pendulum back into our favour.
As United stuttered, City capitalised, clawing the blue half of Manchester back into the title race. A goal and an assist for Silva in pivotal (and goal difference-bolstering) triumphs over West Brom and Norwich aided the fightback – but the Spaniard would have a much bigger part to play in this blockbuster finale.
Come the final day of April, City were right back in the hunt and as fate would have it, were handed the chance to place a firm grip on the Premier League trophy, as challengers United visited the Etihad Stadium.
The night, charged with an electric atmosphere, crackling with excitement, will be forever remembered for captain Vincent Kompany, whose thumping header on the brink of half-time put City in pole position for a first Premier League crown with just two games remaining. Who provided the assist? Designated corner taker David Silva!
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Yaya Toure was then the star of the show at St James’ Park, as City triumphed at Newcastle, but once again, Silva would play his part to help the Blues to Premier League glory on that astonishing day in May 2012 when relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers visited Champions-elect City.
Of course, that topsy-turvy, terrific encounter is not remembered for its assists, although the ever-entertaining Balotelli’s flick to Aguero for that unforgettable winner did prove to be his only one for the Club! In the shadow of the ‘Aguerooooooo’ moment, Pablo Zabaleta and Edin Dzeko’s goals are often regarded as ‘the forgotten goals’ and therefore, Silva (who crossed for Dzeko’s leveller) has a ‘forgotten assist!’
It is only fitting that that team completed that rollercoaster campaign as Champions. The fact the feat was achieved in such sensational style only made the accomplishment all the more special.
It was a feat which simply could not have been reached without the influence of David Silva – the league’s top assist maker. His contribution was deservedly recognised with City’s Players’ Player of the Year award and a first inclusion in the 2011/12 Premier League Team of the Year.
Riding on the crest of the wave, World Cup winner Silva starred again for his country, stirring Spain to more international success, as La Roja lifted the 2012 European Championships. Finishing the tournament with the highest number of assists and direct goal contributions (scoring two goals, including one in the Final), he was named in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament.
Capping an incredible few months, which also garnered Community Shield success, City secured his services for a further five years – much to the delight of the City faithful – with Silva targeting even more silverware for club and country.
“I feel very happy here at the Club, in the city and with all the people,” he stated.
“Being here really does feel like home for me. We've won the Premier League title and two other trophies too, and the team is growing. We are now aiming for the Champions League.”David Silva
Disappointingly, the 2012/13 season would not deliver those targets, as City stumbled, surrendering the league title, falling at the first hurdles of the Champions League and League Cup and suffering a humiliating last-gasp defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup Final.
As with the rest of the squad, Silva was unable to hit the heights of the previous term, with a hamstring injury in autumn also hampering his progress. Even so, he completed the campaign with eight goals and 13 assists in all competitions and motivated by the setback of a substandard season, readied himself for a new campaign, which also brought a new era with a new face at the helm…