Manchester City midfielder David Silva is still haunted by the club's 3-2 Champions League loss to Real Madrid.
The Citizens lead twice at the Bernabeu in the opening fixture of Group D but ended up losing 3-2. If they had held on they would be going into this Wednesday's reverse fixture with more hope, instead of relying on an unlikely sequence of results to take them into the last 16.
“It was a shock, as we were winning 2-1 in the 87th minute and came home with a defeat,” Silva is quoted as saying by AS. “We knew that we were going to be under pressure at the Bernabeu but in the second half we played better. It's a pity about those last few minutes. Winning would have given us a different mentality.”
The former Valencia flair player then looked back on the applause he was given that night, and whether it had any added significance.
“That they applauded the opposing team at the Bernabeu is still gratifying. I didn't expect it. What if it's because they wanted to sign me? I think they value my work with City and the titles we have given to the country with the Seleccion.”
Silva went on to talk Roberto Mancini, Spanish players in England, and City's chances in Wednesday's game.
“He's a Coach that wants to grow, like us. We won the Championship last year and we have unfinished business in the Champions League, but we can still do it.
“The Premier League now relies more on Spanish players. And the players that have already reached the Premier can help the others that arrive.
“It will be a tough game. We're playing more relaxed and better. That will help us. If we qualify it would give us a leap in quality.”
