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Pablo Zabaleta: Manchester City are not celebrating the Premier League title yet David Silva: Manuel Pellegrini has brought happiness to Manchester City
(about 2 hours later)
The Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta insists nobody at the club is celebrating the title yet. David Silva has praised Manuel Pellegrini for bringing "joy and happiness" to Manchester City again following Roberto Mancini's turbulent tenure as manager. The Spaniard also suggested he wants to stay at the club for the foreseeable future.
City effectively need only a draw from their final game of the season against West Ham on Sunday to clinch a second Premier League crown in three years. While Mancini won the FA Cup and a first championship for 44 years when in charge he had difficult relations with many of his players. With City on the verge of winning the Premier League, Silva believes Pellegrini's serene approach has been key.
Manuel Pellegrini's men put one hand on the trophy as they beat Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday to move two points ahead of Liverpool, and with a much superior goal difference. "He's made it a happy place. He's brought a joy and happiness around the place," said the Spaniard. "Also to our style of play. You see that in the way we play, attack-minded, lots of goals. He's made us competitive in every competition. We've gone further in them. He's given us that extra push and taken us one step further maybe.
Some anxiety was evident as City were forced to wait until the 64th minute for Edin Dzeko to break the deadlock, but the mood was celebratory by the time Yaya Touré scored the fourth. "His calmness has been obvious. He's added that to the whole club. And it really helps us at difficult moments. It's nice to have that calm attitude around you when things get tough. That has suited us. So has the style of play he's brought with him. He likes us to have possession, create chances and score lots of goals."
Fans will now hope to turn Sunday's clash into a party but Zabaleta has warned the job is not done yet. Pellegrini views Silva as the City footballer who provides an X-factor that no other team has. The 28-year-old believes Pellegrini has improved him as a player. "Having Manuel here has helped me personally," he said. "It's been really good for me. He's suited me down to the ground. My style of play is more suited to an attacking style. He's helped me develop as a player. You always want to improve as an individual."
"Everybody was happy, of course," the right-back said. "Every time you win a game like that you celebrate, and we knew it was an important game to give us another step forward for the title. Regarding his own future at City, Silva said: "I've always said I'm really happy here. Nothing has changed. I'm totally happy."
"But every single player knows we have done nothing yet. We need to keep fighting. The spirit of this group has been fantastic in the last few games and we just need to keep playing the way we want to play. We have been doing it for the whole season so we will change nothing. Silva recently suffered a recurrence of an ankle problem but revealed how he has played through pain to help the team in the closing stages of their title push. "It's been a good year for me. I've felt good in myself. I had a couple of injuries earlier on," he said. "I've suffered with this ankle problem, I'm still feeling it and I've been playing through the pain. If I get through this game, I can get some rest and be fit and ready for the World Cup.
"We know a draw is enough to win the league but we won't be playing for a draw. We will play to win." "I've been playing through pain for a while. I got caught on the same spot against West Brom [last month]. It was slightly worse than we thought so I had to miss Palace. I managed to come back against Everton [last Saturday]. You have to get through, help the team, work hard and get in there for the final push. After two weeks' rest, everything will be fine for the World Cup.
City know all about last-day rollercoasters having famously struck twice in the closing minutes against QPR in 2012 to snatch the title from Manchester United on goal difference. "When I came off against West Brom, I feared the worst. Fortunately it was a quick rehab – quicker than I thought. The desire and knowledge of what is at stake takes away the pain. You feel it less when there is something at the end of it."
With Liverpool playing Newcastle simultaneously, even though City have the upper hand, the potential for a nerve-jangling finish still exists. Silva has won two European Championships and the World Cup with Spain. "It's difficult to compare them but with the Premier League it's very tough to win it. Everyone knows that and that's what makes it special," he said. "It's different to a World Cup or a Euro. This is something you work for the whole year. It was great to win it the first time – and the motivation to do it again is very high."
Zabaleta said: "Most of our players have been here for more than two years, so we have experience of the game against QPR where everything was decided in the last minute.
"We don't want that again, so we need to have a good rest because Sunday will be another tough game.
"We need to finish this with a big win on Sunday, and we need the fans from the start.
"They have a chance to celebrate another title so I am sure the atmosphere here on Sunday will be fantastic for 90 minutes, and I am sure the players will give 100% to win the game.
"I hope that after 95 minutes we are all celebrating together."