Since arriving during the summer of 2010, David Silva has lit up the Premier League. Aesthetically, few have rivalled David Silva in recent years. Manchester City and Premier League fans alike have had the privilege to watch the Spanish magician week in, week out. His agile turns, visionary passes, and breathtaking dribbling never cease to amaze his viewers. Despite this, there’s more, far more to his game than just dazzling visuals. Tactically, Silva complements Pellegrini’s attacking, free-flowing philosophy perfectly.
Pellegrini has made his name through employing elegant football, wherever he was stationed. He has a particular knack when it comes to attacking play makers. Borja Valero, Isco, Cazorla, Riquelme, Silva, and Nasri can all testify for this. In Pellegrini’s 4-4-2, the attacking midfielders are indented and constantly rotating and moving across the front line.
This line up represents Pellegrini’s tactics. As evident, Silva and Nasri are very narrow and sit in the half-spaces, the space between fullbacks and centrebacks.
This depicts Silva’s positioning between the half-space. What makes the half-space such an important zone in attack is it occupies an area between the fullback and the centreback. The defenders have to communicate who marks the player in the space, in this case Silva, and in this case he’s occupying two players opening space for Jovetic. Silva and Nasri sit in this zone and move around from there, dragging defenders with them. This creates space for Dzeko, who often drops off, or Aguero whose movement is more vertical. What makes Silva so good in these positions is his efficiency in possession and close control. It allows him to retain the ball, hold onto it, and bring others into the play.
Manchester City rely on fullbacks for width most of the time. Regardless of who occupies the role, they are obliged to explore the flanks and get in behind the likes of Nasri and Silva. What Silva does so well is get the ball on the right wing and cut inside with it. Being left footed, he dribbles with his body in-between the ball and the opposing player, allowing him to keep it easily; his close control obviously helps as well. Both of these help him retain the ball until he gets support. He often holds onto the ball until a fullback – usually Zabaleta – gets in behind him. Silva usually drags a fullback and creates room for the full-back, who often takes the ball to the byline and crosses it. This is a common pattern in Manchester City’s attack and Silva is integral to it.
As mentioned before, Pellegrini’s system is very fluid and requires movement on and off the ball from the attacking players. Silva is perfect for this seeing as he loves to drift around and he is an intelligent footballer. Silva finds little gaps in opposing sides and his ball control allows him to do the damage from these positions.
Silva here is sitting in the space between the midfielders and defenders. With one Fernandinho pass, Sunderland’s whole midfield is being bypassed. Upon receiving the ball, Silva is in space with Sunderland’s defence at his mercy. So often in these positions we see strikers latching onto a Silva through ball and tucking the ball into the back of the net; it’s another pattern in Manchester City’s play.
Last season, Pellegrini’s debut season, Silva created 84 chances and assisted 9 goals as well as scoring 7. This really goes to show just how Silva has thrived under Pellegrini’s expansive play style. He’s continued this season the way he left the last one off too, having created 33 chances, registering 2 assists, and scoring 6 goals this season. The latter proves how important Silva has been with the absences of strikers for Manchester City.
Another aspect of Silva’s game, one not so easy to observe, is his connection with his teammates around. His and Nasri’s combination play is always something to be admired. The quick touches and one-touch passes are always easy on the eye. Silva also has a great combination with Milner, among others. Milner, in particular, seems to know what Silva is going to do whenever he gets the ball. He is constantly making decisions on and off the ball which complements Silva’s play.
David Silva is entering his fifth season with Manchester City and the 29 year old shows no signs of slowing down, either. He has consistently performed for years and this seems to be a trend. He’s been untouchable the last few seasons, and is on track for another incredible season.
