David Silva is Manchester City's Andres Iniesta... 'Merlin's' magical display against Swansea is Pep Guardiola in action

  • David Silva scored twice as Manchester City beat struggling Swansea 4-0
  • The Spain playmaker has now scored five goals this season - more than last year
  • Under Pep Guardiola he is now willing to drive beyond markers and finish moves
  • Silva is now performing like Andres Iniesta did for so many years at Barcelona
  • MATCH REPORT: Manchester City continue unbeaten run with Swansea victory

Without looking, David Silva nudged a ball around the corner and set off in pursuit of goal No 2. Two don’t generally come around too often.

Raheem Sterling saw him coming and touched into the Spaniard’s path. First touch to gather, second to scoop over Lukasz Fabianski and that was Manchester City home and dry in the wind and rain just after half-time.

For all Pep Guardiola’s genius, converting Silva into a midfielder willing to drive beyond markers and finish moves is a hugely unexpected change. Even for him.

David Silva inspired Manchester City to a 4-0 victory over struggling Swansea on Wednesday

David Silva inspired Manchester City to a 4-0 victory over struggling Swansea on Wednesday

The magician scored the opening goal for City after 27 minutes, flicking past Lukas Fabiankski

The magician scored the opening goal for City after 27 minutes, flicking past Lukas Fabiankski

Yet here we are, in the middle of December, with the man they call Merlin standing tall on five Premier League goals already. Four was his haul last year. This is Guardiola in action.


Three goals inside the six-yard box in a matter of days after the opener during Sunday’s derby win at Old Trafford now and Silva is enjoying a freer ride. He is performing like Andres Iniesta did for so many years at Barcelona.

The heel flick for the opener here was sumptuous but also showed poaching instincts. The dink over Fabianski was effortless. He was the best player on the park at Manchester United and then at Swansea City too.

He then scooped beyond Fabianski to ensure City maintained their lead at the top of the table

He then scooped beyond Fabianski to ensure City maintained their lead at the top of the table

No wonder they were so delighted to agree that contract extension. And he might have had more than the double on Wednesday had Mike Van der Hoorn not blocked off yet another clever dart.

Never before has he been the one asked to join in with City’s central striker, previous managers just appreciative of his finesse in possession and ability to pick apart defences.

Times change and Guardiola doesn’t believe in defined roles. More is demanded of them all now and Silva, the manager’s most trusted man inside the dressing room, continues to show just how good this team can become.

Silva doubled his tally and added a third for City only seven minutes into the second half

Silva doubled his tally and added a third for City only seven minutes into the second half

At 31, he is still learning and still willing to adapt - an example to the plethora of younger talent City have at their disposal. This is the best he has ever played and Bernardo Silva in particular should be taking notes.

Silva would have gone down as one of the club’s greatest ever players regardless but Guardiola has unlocked another dimension. His eight league assists are level with last year’s tally. He still starts moves wonderfully but now finishes them more often.

Added to that is the way he harasses defensively, often doing the dirty work between the two central defenders if Fernandinho finds himself elsewhere. To say he has been reinvented would be wrong. But he is certainly re-energised: Guardiola’s all-action Duracell bunny.