Manchester City star David Silva has admitted winning the Premier League title would mean as much as World Cup glory with Spain.
City playmaker plays down claims of Premier League pressure
Manchester City star David Silva has admitted winning the Premier League title would mean as much as World Cup glory with Spain.
The gifted playmaker has enjoyed significant success for his country in recent years, with Spain the reigning world and European champions.
Now Silva has set his sights on further silverware with his club having helped Roberto Mancini's men to FA Cup glory last term.
City currently lead the way in the Premier League by three points ahead of what could prove to be a pivotal weekend, with Spurs visiting the Etihad Stadium and Manchester United travelling to Arsenal.
Intense
Speaking at a supporters' club event this week, Silva said: "Winning the Premier League was the reason I came to England - and it would be just as important to me as winning the European Championship and World Cup.
"Coming to City was a big challenge for me. Winning the FA Cup in my first season was a big achievement, but this is a great championship to be in because the competition is so intense.
"I think England and Spain have the two best leagues. But the difference is that over here there are more teams capable of winning the title than there are in Spain. That makes it more exciting.
"In Spain there are always only two teams in contention. In England there are many teams fighting right up to the death."
Title rivals Spurs and United have been attempting to crank up the pressure on City, but Silva insists that Mancini's men are more relaxed because of the advantage they hold at the summit.
Very pleased
"People say we are under pressure, but I don't feel any tension because we are at the top," he added.
"For me, real pressure comes when you are in the chasing pack because in that position you really can't afford any defeats.
"We are right up there and because of that we have a certain margin of error that the others don't. Of course, we will be doing our best not to throw that away, but there will always be periods within a season when you are not as clinical in front of goal as you should be.
"At the start of the season we were creating and converting more chances and we have to do our best to regain that form.
"I have heard Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Tottenham are playing the best football at the moment. Of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion. But I think we are having a very good season and I can tell you that every player at City is very pleased."
