David Silva: I owe Man City and Pep Guardiola so much | OneFootball

David Silva says he is indebted to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola for the support he received last season.

Silva’s son Mateo was born three months prematurely around the turn of last year and the Spanish midfielder was forced to miss eight City matches while the newborn was fighting for his life.

But the 32-year-old still made a massive contribution to his side’s sensational Premier League title winning season and with his son now healthily approaching his first birthday, Silva has expressed his gratitude for the delicate way his personal situation was handled.

“They were the hardest few months of my life,” he told FourFourTwo.

“Every time I went back home, I’d spend the entire time in hospital with [partner] Yessica and Mateo.

“The journeys were so long and you never rest because you’re thinking about your son and partner the whole time. I wasn’t eating properly and I’d only train for one day a week.

“I owe Pep Guardiola, my team-mates and the club so much. Everyone has been so supportive.

“My head wasn’t in Manchester and Pep recognised it was better for the team, and my own well-being, if I was with my family. I had to be close to them.

“If it hadn’t happened this way, there’s no way I’d have been able to deal with everything. All of the coming and going to and from Valencia would have been too much.”

Silva brought Mateo onto the pitch with him prior to August’s 6-1 win over Huddersfield – a game in which he scored a brilliant free-kick.

“He was the star that day, of course,” added the former Spain international.

“When he’s older, I’ll never stop telling him about that day. More than winning the Premier League, more than anything. It all becomes secondary to the health of your family and your son.”