In the summer of 2010, Manchester City splashed somewhere around £25 million of their new Arabian cash on a David Silva. The 24-year-old had already established himself as the link man in Spain’s World-Cup winning side in South Africa, and the signing was seen as further evidence’s of the club’s commitment to winning the title.
The following summer, Juan Mata, another pint-sized playmaker and one of Silva’s former teammates at Valencia, left La Liga to join Chelsea at a time when tika-taka was seen as the pinnacle of world football. Although he was also part of his country Word Cup squad, the lesser-known – and younger – Mata made only one appearance as a substitute for Fernando Torres.
When Chelsea met Manchester City for the first time that season, the game was proceeded with a debate over which of the two players was better than the other – and who was the best in the league, as if this was already an accepted fact that it was one or the other.
Despite the wave of acclaim for both players – particularly in the first half of the season – neither Silva nor Mata won the award for the Premier League’s Player of the Season that year and neither has won it in the years that have followed.
Silva has continued his shimmering form for City, but outside of Manchester, he’s rarely draws the same excited breaths as the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero or even Vincent Kompany. It’s a clear a testament to the strength of City’s squad, but it’s also perhaps a reflection of the fact that it’s become old hat to speak about Spanish players with the same gushing praise as was common a few years ago.
The main criticism aimed at Silva is that he doesn’t score enough goals. Another reproach is that he doesn’t rack up enough points in Fantasy Football; it’s a ludicrous way to judge a professional footballer, but it goes some way to explaining why a number of lesser players receive more consistent praise, both in and outside of their respective clubs.
Silva’s talents are subtler than the more dynamic, all-action Premier League stars. His abilities were plain to see at Villa Park on Saturday, as he glided past his opponents, played perfectly weighted one-touch passes and received the ball while closely marked by defenders and still managed to keep hold of possession.
The next day, it was Mata’s chance to shine, as he pulled a Manchester United shirt over his head and stepped into the hole behind Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, which had been conveniently opened-up by Wayne Rooney’s three-match suspension.
Since his arrival at Chelsea, Mata has been universally regarded as one of most dangerous and intelligent players in the Premier League (with the exception of Jose Mourinho, it would seem). He poses more of a goal threat than Silva; he scored 18 goals in 82 appearances for Chelsea and was crowned as Chelsea’s Player of the Season for two years running (an honour that City have never bestowed upon Silva).
Mourinho’s decision to freeze Mata out of the Chelsea team was one that baffled – and continues to baffle – the majority of football fans. But despite his slip down the pecking order, David Moyes was confident enough to spend £37 million to bring the out-of-favour Spaniard to United.
Joining in January, Mata’s first season for United was a patchy one. In what was probably his best performance of the season, Mata scored twice in United’s 4-0 win over Newcastle in April, and after the match spoke of how much he enjoyed linking up with Shinji Kagawa.
Kagawa’s departure would’ve hit Mata harder than most, particularly as the arrival of the supremely talented Angel Di Maria has made it easier to overlook Mata’s performances so far.
Mata has scored two goals this season, compared to Rooney’s three. Having both featured in six games, Mata has attempted and completed more passes than Rooney, and against Everton, he looked like a more natural fit in the number 10 role.
The next two games could be a vital in determining Mata’s future at the club, as rumours surrounding a move back to Spain continue to circulate. Paul Scholes has already suggested that Rooney’ should be deployed in a deeper role as he gets older, so it will be fascinating to see if Mata does enough to convince Louis van Gaal to incorporate both players into his midfield diamond.
Much like his new club, Mata’s reputation has been dented over the last year or so – and it’s something that he’s yet to fully recover from. This season, United will realign their targets on a top four finish, as Silva and his teammates in the blue side of Manchester go about defending their title.
Regardless of the outcome, both players will be watched very closely, as they continue to dazzle and remind us why they’re still very much part of the Premier League’s elite.
Alex Andrews
Filed under: Sport
