Manchester City have had the pleasure of seeing many top players represent the club since they became a dominant force in the Premier League.
Since the Abu Dhabi takeover of the club back in 2008, City have many domestic trophies including eight Premier League titles.
Having won these titles under the management of Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola, a select few played under all three for the Citizens.
Now though, one current top-flight player who has faced off against the Blues on many occasions has named one former City star as the toughest opponent he’s ever tussled with on the pitch.
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Joel Ward names David Silva as his hardest opponent
When asked by talkSPORT who the toughest winger he has played against is, Ward gave this honest response.
He said: “I always say the likes of David Silva, just because he was so intelligent on the pitch.
“Coming up against someone like him, obviously I know he wasn’t an out-and-out winger, but the positions which he picked up put you in grey areas where you couldn’t go in and you couldn’t close him.
“Then if he turns, he’s picking out a worldie pass.”
Silva is Phil Foden’s ‘favourite’ player
Between 2010 and 2020, the former midfielder racked up 436 appearances for the Citizens in all competitions.
Across those games, Silva scored 77 goals, delivered 131 assists and lifted numerous trophies including four Premier League titles.
Ward isn’t the only current Premier League player to highlight how good the ex-City star was, as Phil Foden named Silva as a big influence in how he became the player he is today, saying this about him back in February.
He said: “Definitely one of my favourite players growing up. Obviously, watching him in the academy and luckily got to play with him as well a little bit so it was a dream come true.
“I definitely took the back-foot receiving in tight areas off him and obviously, I had a little bit of flair to my game as well so I think I’m a different type of player a little bit but definitely took some advice off him.”
As one of the players who featured under all three of City’s Premier League-winning managers, Silva found himself on the end of some significant praise from Danny Murphy, who said this back in August last year about how the Spaniard changed his game once Guardiola took charge.
He said: “David Silva’s levels and his numbers when Pep first came in went through the roof in distance covered, high intensity, winning the ball back. This is David Silva, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in our league.”
With Ward now pinpointing Silva as the toughest player he’s ever played against in his career over the likes of Eden Hazard and Sadio Mane, this should further increase the former City star’s status as one of the best players the Premier League has seen.
