Delph: We weren’t teammates – we were brothers | OneFootball

Fabian Delph says the bond between the City players during his time with the Club went way beyond just playing in the same team.

Delph, who made 89 appearances for the Blues across four seasons and was a two-time Premier League champion, retired from playing aged 32 in 2022 after a three-year stint with Everton.

Before City, he played for Leeds United and Aston Villa, but it was his time at the Etihad and the special group of players he was part of that made such an impact on his life.

“I miss them all,” said Delph.

“I didn’t see them as teammates; I saw them as brothers. I cared about everybody that I played with.

“I’d like to think that people could see I was fully committee, and I miss them. I still talk to some of them, and I have really fond memories of my time with City.

“I put everything into my football career, and I missed a lot of family time. I’ve taken myself away from everything and bonded with my family, I have four kids,

“I’ve been travelling, and I’ve just been enjoying my family and then this opportunity to come on Matchday Live came and I thought 'why not reminisce about my time at City?'”

Though Delph arrived at City as a combative midfielder, he transitioned to left-back under Pep Guardiola and made many of his appearances for the Club in that role.

Who better, then, to cast an eye over the progress of Nico O’Reilly who has also been learning the same role under Guardiola.

“For me, it was just learning on the job really,” he said.

“Because I’m naturally a midfield player, in possession technically it wasn’t hard to settle into that role.

“The tough part would be the one on one defending. I’ve been so impressed with Nico O’Reilly.

“To be in the City team you have to be technically sound, but you have to adjust tactically too, otherwise you will get found out.

“I don’t think it was a shock for him to be [called up by England].”

Delph also shared his memories on skipper Bernardo and the magician that was David Silva, adding: “Bernardo? What a great guy! He’s just a great human being; he’s the favourite guy in the dressing room.

“When you see him becoming the leader, it’s great to see. When I signed, if someone said he was going to be the captain, I wouldn’t have believed it because, we always saw captains in teams as alphas, and aggressive, and calling people out, and he’s such a nice guy, but as you grow you see the different attributes and the different ways that people lead.

“He’s almost the perfect one to lead the team.

“As for David Silva, for me, he was by far the best player I've ever played with.

“He made my job so much easier because I just had to pass it to him. I could blast it at his chin, and he would control it!

“We all played at David’s pace because he was dictating the tempo and controlling the game.

“He had big tree trunk legs, and he was so strong. He was two steps ahead of everyone and I'd see it all the time in training.

“I look back my time with City as the happiest years of my career.”