David Silva and Pep Guardiola once worked together at Manchester City. Even though, Silva rarely speaks in extremes, but when he reflects on his football journey, his words carry the weight of experience.
One of City’s greatest-ever players has been looking back on a career that reshaped both his life and the club’s modern identity, offering candid insight into working under Pep Guardiola and revisiting the choices that defined his prime years.
Speaking on El Camino de Mario (Mario’s Journey), the YouTube channel hosted by former Spain midfielder Mario Suárez, Silva delivered an honest assessment of Guardiola.
The Spaniard described the City manager as a footballing mastermind, while also pointing to what he considers the coach’s one notable weakness: an intense attention to detail that can limit individual freedom.
Silva’s comments come from a position few can match. He is widely regarded as the most influential Spanish footballer to play in the Premier League, a player whose subtle brilliance helped transform Manchester City from domestic contenders into a dominant force at home and a respected name in Europe.
He joined City in 2010, arriving quietly but leaving a legacy that now defines an era. Over a decade at the Etihad Stadium, Silva made 436 appearances in all competitions, scoring 77 goals and providing 141 assists.
He became City’s fastest player to reach 200 Premier League victories and set a club record with 288 league appearances. Along the way, he lifted 14 major trophies, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields.
David Silva and Pep Guardiola relationship started when the manager arrived City in 2016. Although Silva was already a club icon, under his fellow Spaniard, the midfielder’s role evolved rather than faded. He went on to make 175 appearances under Guardiola, playing a central part in six major trophy triumphs and helping to redefine City’s possession-based dominance.
Silva’s respect for Guardiola is unmistakable. The former Spain international credits the City manager with elevating his understanding of the game, describing their time together as a step above anything he had previously experienced.
“Working with him was on another level,” he said.
For Silva, Guardiola’s greatest strength lies in preparation. Training sessions, tactical meetings and match plans were all shaped by an obsessive focus on detail, designed to remove uncertainty once the game began.
“Because he already knew everything the other team was going to do, he had everything prepared, and things just worked out for you in the match. It’s another level.”
That clarity, Silva suggests, made life easier for players on the pitch. Movements were rehearsed, patterns were drilled and decisions often felt instinctive because they had already been explored in training.
Yet Silva was equally honest about the downside. Guardiola’s precision, he says, can sometimes come at the cost of individual freedom.
“The worst thing about him is that he’s very particular; he doesn’t give you much freedom. But in other aspects, he’s a genius.”
It is a balanced verdict rather than a criticism. David Silva an Pep Guardiola obviously have respect for each other and the former City midfielder acknowledges that Guardiola’s demanding nature is inseparable from his success.
The structure, discipline and repetition that can feel restrictive are also what allow teams to dominate opponents with such consistency.
For City, that approach delivered unprecedented control in domestic football, including record-breaking league points totals and a style of play that became a benchmark across Europe.
Long before he became synonymous with Manchester City, Silva was one of the most talented young midfielders in Europe. His performances for Valencia marked him out as a natural heir to Spain’s golden generation, and interest soon followed from the country’s two biggest clubs.
Real Madrid and Barcelona both tracked his progress, with Valencia president Manuel Llorente later revealing that Jose Mourinho had blocked a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu during his time as Madrid manager.
Barcelona, meanwhile, admired Silva’s technical quality and positional intelligence, traits that seemed tailor-made for their philosophy.
Silva admits that the idea of playing for Barcelona held obvious appeal. For a Spanish footballer of his generation, the Camp Nou represented the highest stage. But circumstances, timing and Valencia’s financial situation ultimately shaped a different path.
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“I don’t know if the interest was genuine,” he said.
“Barcelona also wanted me. But Valencia wasn’t selling anyone at that time, then they had financial problems and sold Villa and me.”
When Manchester City came calling, they offered something different. The club was ambitious, well-resourced and determined to build a team capable of challenging England’s elite. For Silva, the move represented both a risk and an opportunity.
“Would I have liked to play for Barça? Who wouldn’t… but the best decision I made in my career was going to City. I had ten spectacular years there.”
That conviction has only strengthened with time. Silva points not just to trophies, but to the sense of belonging he felt in Manchester. He speaks warmly of the supporters, the city and the unique culture surrounding English football.
“The people treated me incredibly well, we won everything, the team was constantly improving, and then there’s something different about England. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something different about football. It’s like a religion for them.”