2016 Manchester City – David Silva #21 Medium

Season Overview

The 2016–17 season marked the beginning of a new era for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola took charge following years of domestic success under previous managers. Expectations were enormous as one of football’s most influential coaches arrived in England to reshape Manchester City in his image.

City showed flashes of brilliance throughout the campaign, introducing Guardiola’s possession-based philosophy and positional play concepts to the Premier League. While the adaptation process brought exciting performances, it also revealed areas requiring improvement.

Manchester City finished 3rd in the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification but falling behind Chelsea and Tottenham in the title race. In Europe, City reached the Champions League Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Monaco on away goals after one of the competition’s most entertaining ties.

Although the season ended without major silverware, it laid the tactical foundations for the record-breaking teams that would follow in subsequent years.

The 2016–17 Manchester City home kit, produced by Nike, featured the club’s iconic sky-blue colorway with navy accents and a clean, modern design. As Guardiola’s first City shirt, it has become an increasingly popular vintage football shirt among collectors.

Player’s Impact – David Silva

The 2016–17 season further cemented David Silva as one of the greatest players in Manchester City’s history. Already a club legend by this point, Silva became one of the key figures in helping Guardiola implement his demanding tactical system.

Operating primarily as an advanced central midfielder, Silva thrived in Guardiola’s possession-oriented approach. His close control, vision, and ability to receive the ball in tight spaces made him the perfect conductor for City’s attacking play.

Silva contributed double-digit assists across all competitions while constantly dictating tempo and creating opportunities for teammates. Rather than relying on physical attributes, he controlled matches through intelligence, positioning, and technical mastery.

Beyond his statistics, Silva served as one of Guardiola’s most trusted on-field interpreters. His understanding of space and timing helped accelerate City’s tactical evolution and provided stability during a season of significant change.

This campaign reinforced Silva’s reputation as one of the Premier League’s greatest midfield playmakers and one of the most influential players of Manchester City’s modern era.

Full Squad List (Manchester City – 2016–17 Season)

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Goalkeepers:
Claudio Bravo, Willy Caballero, Angus Gunn

Defenders:
Vincent Kompany (captain), John Stones, Nicolás Otamendi, Gaël Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov, Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta

Midfielders:
David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Yaya Touré, İlkay Gündoğan, Jesús Navas, Leroy Sané, Raheem Sterling

Forwards:
Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Jesus, Kelechi Iheanacho