City’s brilliant playmaker has won every English domestic competition, as well as a World Cup and two European Championships, but he’s far from finished there.
The man lovingly referred to as “El Mago” still has one trophy he hasn’t got his hands on and he’s using that empty space in his medal collection as a very specific goal upon entry into his third decade.
“The main thing is to still have that hunger,” Silva declared.
“I still have that same desire and same hunger to keep winning trophies and more than anything to keep improving. I still consider it a work in progress, with constantly striving to get better and hopefully achieving more with the team.
“I think I’ve said on a few occasions that the thing that’s still missing, that I haven’t got my hands on is the Champions League. That’s something I’d still love to be able to do.
“The league is always the trophy you probably most want to win because that’s the tournament you’re playing in week in, week out but we need to step up a level in the Champions League so it will be important to go as far as we possibly can in that tournament as well.”
City take on Everton on Wednesday knowing that there is a possibility they could be back at the top of the table at the end of the night.
With Arsenal travelling to Anfield to take on Liverpool and Leicester facing a difficult game away at in-form Spurs, Silva is determined to ensure that his teammates can capitalise on any slip-ups elsewhere.
In a Premier League characterised by widespread inconsistency and surprise results, David believes that the title race could run right until the final game of the season.
Silva reflected: “You never know – it has happened in the past hasn’t it! I hope it’s us who are successful in winning the title. Obviously it would be nice if it was settled a little bit before the end of the season but if it has to come down to the last game of the season then so be it.
“There are lots and lots of games with a packed fixture calendar but the big thing is that a lot of our opponents throughout the league have really strengthened well over the summer.
“Teams are getting stronger. Their acquisitions are getting better and better and the proof of that is that it’s harder to win games against every level of team in the league.
“It is a bit strange playing the same team three times in a month. We know they’re a good outfit, a strong side and we need to be 100% ready.
“You can’t relax for a second against them.”
One probably cause for any inconsistency on City’s part is a plague of injuries to key players at key moments in the season.
David spent a significant portion of the season out of action with an ankle injury, contributing to the fact that the core of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, Silva himself and Yaya Toure have only been on the field together for just 279 minutes of the Premier League season (15.5%).
“It’s been tough,” David added.
“It’s been a pretty frustrating period especially when I had a decent start to the season.
“I’ve just been held back by this ankle injury but hopefully I can get some form back, get fit and be ready to do my bit to help the team.”
