Manchester City’s David Silva underlined his importance to their impending title success with both goals in a comfortable 2-0 Premier League win at Stoke City.
Pep Guardiola’s side could have won by a much clearer margin against Paul Lambert’s relegation-threatened Stoke but with the title in sight — City are 16 points clear of second-placed Manchester United — they will not agonise over wasted chances.
If City wins their next league game at Everton on March 31st that will set up a Manchester derby at City’s Etihad Stadium where a win over their arch-rivals would secure the title.
“Everybody in the blue side of Manchester knows it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity but steady, it won’t be handed to us,” said City skipper Vincent Kompany.
Silva, whose son was born prematurely in January, has been splitting his time between Manchester and Spain in order to be with his family yet there is no sign on the field of the difficulties in his personal life affecting his performance.
“When I play football I forget about everything else, it is good for me to play,” Silva said after the game. “My private life is very hard for me but my son is fighting and getting better.”
Silva put City ahead in the 10th minute, finishing off a move of stunning simplicity with a confident close-range strike from Raheem Sterling’s low cross after the England winger had been set clear by a clever pass from Gabriel Jesus.
The Spaniard produced another individual brilliance to double his side’s lead after 50 minutes.
