The Portugal international believes the runaway Premier League leaders are being targeted by opponents and are not receiving enough protection from officials who should be handing out more red cards.
Matt Phillips escaped with only a yellow card for an X-rated thigh-high challenge on youngster Brahim Diaz late in City’s 3-0 wib over West Brom last night.
It was the latest in a series of brutal challenges on City players this season and came just four days after Cardiff’s Joe Bennett was only cautioned for a reckless tackle on Leroy Sane that damaged the German winger’s ankle ligaments and ruled him out of City’s quadruple challenge for two months.
Fortunately Diaz wasn’t injured while Kevin De Bruyne also escaped injury after James McClean’s scything attempt to bring him down during the build-up to City’s second goal.
When asked if he felt City were being targeted, former Monaco star Silva said: “Obviously. The coach [Pep Guardiola] and everyone has already spoken about that. It’s clear if you look at the last few months.
“We’ve seen with Leroy it was a terrible accident and now he’s injured for two months – a very important player. Today it could have been Brahim and it could have been Kevin on the second goal.
“I think, as the coach says, the referees have to do their job and if it’s a red card they have to give the red card. They are not doing that over the last few months.
“We hope that soon they start protecting our players because the way other teams are tackling our players it’s not part of the game, it’s not fair play and they have to try to punish the players that play this way.”
Attacking midfielder Silva says the difference between the Premier League and French football is that English referees are prepared to let more go.
“France is really physical – I think maybe even a little bit more than here,” he added. “ What you have here is obviously the referees let you play a little bit more so the game is more intense.
“And the quality of the players is better because the teams in England have more money and they pay better salaries so obviously the players are better.
“It’s the best league in the world – most of the people know that – but it’s complicated to play here. It’s physical and very technical at the same time and it’s always difficult to play against these kind of teams.”
City new boy Aymeric Laporte made his debut against West Brom and admitted he was left bewildered that tackles that would be fouls in La Liga are not given in England.
He said: “Obviously it is different from Spain because you don’t know what is a foul and what is not – or what the referee is going to say. It is a little bit surprising but little by little I am going to get used to it.”
Guardiola has been carefully noting the misdemeanours against his players this season. It started back in September with Sadio Mane’s high boot challenge on goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, although the Liverpool was striker was red carded for that incident.
But Harry Kane and Dele Alli both escaped reds after committing nasty challenges on Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne respectively in the home game against Tottenham.
Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy came under fire for a high and late challenge on Ilkay Gundogan .on December 27 and foru days later Jason Puncheon also escaped a red card for a crude lunge on De Bruyne – although the Crystal Palace midfielder injured his own knee ligaments and put himself out for the season such was the force of the challenge.
Then came Bennett’s challenge on Sane – for which he was cautioned although later sent off for another caution after fouling Sergio Aguero – before McClean (on De Bruyne) and Phillips (on Diaz) last night.
Guardiola had a heated conversation with fourth official Kevin Friend after Phillips’ challenge on Diaz.
“I’ve said what I said so we spoke with Kevin, the fourth official,” he said. “They have an opinion, I have another one, they’re the bosses, I accept that. I have to accept it.
“Today we were lucky [that Brahim was not injured] – three or four days ago we were unlucky with Leroy. The image [TV replays] speaks for itself. I could repeat what I said after the last game but it’s not necessary. The chat [with Friend] was good, that’s all.”
But City have received some good news on the disciplinary front because Fernandinho will not face retrospective action from the FA after appearing to stamp on West brom’s Grzegorz Krychowiak in the first half of last night’s game.
The FA say the incident was seen by referee Lee Mason and his assistants who felt there was no intent in the challenge.
City are sweating on the fitness of David Silva for Saturday’s trip to Burnley however after he came off with a back injury against West Brom.
Apart from Silva, City are already without Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Benjamin Mendy, Phil Foden and Fabian Delph.