Silva has started the new campaign in sparkling form and is thriving in Pep Guardiola’s free-flowing attacking side – and the stats for the first two months of the 2017/18 season back up the indications that the Spain international is playing better than ever before.
In just nine appearance this campaign, Silva has made eight goals for his team-mates in all competitions and his six Premier League assists are more than any other player in the top flight.
Silva’s best season so far for assists was in his second campaign for City when he created 18 goals as the Blues went on lift the Premier League title for the first time in 44 years.
In fact, he’s hit double figures for his first seven seasons with City – 11.71 per season.
Already just two shy of making it eight years in a row, it’s an incredible return for the stand-in skipper who is deservedly recognised as one of Spain’s greatest internationals and few La Roja stars have won more title overseas.
And for a player who prides himself on accuracy, there is more good news.
This season’s passing accuracy percentage is higher than any of his previous seven seasons, standing at an impressive 88.58% - that’s pretty much nine out of every 10 passes finds its intended destination.
Silva’s previous passing accuracy high was 88.14 in 2013/14 and before that, 86.93 in 2011/12 – each season ended with the Blues lifting the Premier League title.
The one area Silva is still to register is goals – he managed 12 in 2014/15 – his highest and best scoring campaign yet for the Blues.
In the Premier League he’s had 12 shots so far and two on target, though he’s struck the woodwork on one occasion.
Silva is expected to represent Spain this week as the World Cup Qualifiers draw to a close – he has currently won 117 caps for his country and score 34 goals – the sixth and fourth most respectively in each category with, hopefully, plenty more to come for club and country in the coming years.
