DAVID SILVA last night told his struggling Manchester City pals: Treat every match like a cup final.
The Spanish midfielder, battling an ankle injury, could only watch from his Canary Island bolthole as City slumped to their second cup defeat in three days.
Wednesday's Carling Cup loss to Liverpool followed hot on the heels of Sunday's FA Cup reversal against Manchester United, in which Silva was crocked.
And the Spanish World Cup winner is desperate to face Wigan on Monday as City try to cement their position as Premier League leaders in the face of the Spurs surge that has seen the London club pull alongside second-placed United.
Silva was sorely missed from Roberto Mancini's midfield.
And the 26-year-old said: "Being knocked out of the FA Cup by United was an important moment — we really wanted to try and retain the trophy.
"And it was a pain watching the Carling Cup defeat on television.
"It was a bad result for us but we could rise above it in the second leg at Anfield. We still have a good chance of making the final.
"One thing is certain: we have failed in two consecutive home matches against big clubs.
"But I do not think these setbacks are that significant or that City are a club in crisis. The season is very long and any club can suffer defeats. Of course our priority is the League.
"We top the table and any one of our rivals would rather be in our position. Even at this stage a three-point advantage is sensational. But from now on we must play every match as though it were a final."
Silva, who joined from Valencia in 2010 for £24million, has been receiving private physio work in his home town of Arguineguin on Gran Canaria.
Now he will return to Manchester where he must first satisfy Mancini he is ready to take on struggling Wigan.
Mancini — who has also lost Vincent Kompany to a four-game ban for his sending off against United — is hopeful his talisman will be back for Monday's showdown.
And Silva himself said: "I think that I will be able to play, although the decision rests with the coach. But it's not going to be an easy night."
He could also be heading for a big pay rise. Silva still has two years remaining on his existing deal and City are thought to want to extend his contract by a further two years.
They would also boost his pay to put him in the same bracket as Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.
Silva is estimated to be on £150,000 a week — around £50,000 less than his highest earning team-mates.
The Spanish midfielder, battling an ankle injury, could only watch from his Canary Island bolthole as City slumped to their second cup defeat in three days.
Wednesday's Carling Cup loss to Liverpool followed hot on the heels of Sunday's FA Cup reversal against Manchester United, in which Silva was crocked.
And the Spanish World Cup winner is desperate to face Wigan on Monday as City try to cement their position as Premier League leaders in the face of the Spurs surge that has seen the London club pull alongside second-placed United.
Silva was sorely missed from Roberto Mancini's midfield.
And the 26-year-old said: "Being knocked out of the FA Cup by United was an important moment — we really wanted to try and retain the trophy.
"And it was a pain watching the Carling Cup defeat on television.
"It was a bad result for us but we could rise above it in the second leg at Anfield. We still have a good chance of making the final.
"One thing is certain: we have failed in two consecutive home matches against big clubs.
"But I do not think these setbacks are that significant or that City are a club in crisis. The season is very long and any club can suffer defeats. Of course our priority is the League.
"We top the table and any one of our rivals would rather be in our position. Even at this stage a three-point advantage is sensational. But from now on we must play every match as though it were a final."
Silva, who joined from Valencia in 2010 for £24million, has been receiving private physio work in his home town of Arguineguin on Gran Canaria.
Now he will return to Manchester where he must first satisfy Mancini he is ready to take on struggling Wigan.
Mancini — who has also lost Vincent Kompany to a four-game ban for his sending off against United — is hopeful his talisman will be back for Monday's showdown.
And Silva himself said: "I think that I will be able to play, although the decision rests with the coach. But it's not going to be an easy night."
He could also be heading for a big pay rise. Silva still has two years remaining on his existing deal and City are thought to want to extend his contract by a further two years.
They would also boost his pay to put him in the same bracket as Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero.
Silva is estimated to be on £150,000 a week — around £50,000 less than his highest earning team-mates.