The largest cheers and persistent applause at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday were not for Erling Haaland’s four goals or lap of honour, but for a returning icon prior to kickoff. David Silva returned to Manchester City for the first time since leaving in 2020, following a successful period with Real Sociedad before calling it quits last summer. He returned to the ground where his statue stands and garnered the admiration of a City fanbase that never had the opportunity to say goodbye during the Covid years.
This was a goodbye ovation that had been planned for four years and lasted a good few minutes, sustained and sincere. Haaland is the hero these days, but he still needs to win Silva’s genuine love, as he strolled out with his young family, including son Mateo, who is much bigger than the last time he was on the Etihad pitch, and exchanged high-fives with Moonbeam.
Taking his seat in the stands, Silva will have been pleased with the City team that has progressed without him, particularly the development of Phil Foden. Consider the harm Silva may have done with Haaland to supply and the 2024 Foden to connect up with.
On Saturday, Haaland scored his eighth hat-trick for the club, passing 100 goal involvements in just 94 appearances and pulling ahead of the pack in the Premier League Golden Boot competition. He has 36 goals this season, more than any other City player since 1941, with the exception of Haaland last season.
When Haaland plays like way, the other ten players usually melt into one. Rodri received a wonderful assist, Josko Gvardiol played effectively, and Kevin De Bruyne maintained his excellent form. Foden was quietly efficient, and it was his quick-thinking ball that Haaland grabbed from the sky for City’s fourth goal. Guardiola had just gone insane on the sidelines as Ederson fumbled a cross, allowing Hwang Hee-chan to score for Wolves. Guardiola stood on the edge of the technical area, enraged, swinging his arms and spitting about how his team could concede such a cheap goal.
Seconds later, the City Chief was cheering again, Ederson’s clanger having been temporarily forgotten. Haaland’s finish was excellent given the circumstances, and he walked away as if nothing had happened. Foden’s ball forward was equally as significant in restoring the three-goal lead and soothing Guardiola’s rage.
Prior to it, Foden had been involved, occupying the spaces Silva had used around the area’s edge, connecting with Haaland and De Bruyne. Foden once skipped past his marker, sprinted the length of the Wolves’ half, and nearly set up Haaland for an acrobatic fifth.
By the end of the game, he had taken on the role of David Silva, having started out wide and gliding between midfield and the number ten position. His good form continues, and he backed up his manager’s pre-match prediction that he may be one of City’s greatest ever with another strong performance in a transforming season. Even if Haaland eclipsed him. With Silva watching, Foden still has a long way to go before he can match his idol, but he is making an impression and taking responsibility in the same way El Mago does. His quick thinking to free Haaland may have also helped drop Guardiola’s blood pressure and aided his defensive teammates.
