Silva: Man United 'respect' City more

City had endured a long period without silverware when Silva joined the club from Valencia in 2010 but have since won four trophies, including two Premier League titles.

City have even overtaken United in UEFA's club coefficient rankings and are now judged in a much better light by their Manchester neighbours, according to Silva.

"We have been up there now for a few seasons, so United now have a lot more respect for us," he said in the Daily Telegraph. "When I came to City, it was different.

"They (United) of course, have much more history, much more prestige, tradition. But now we have won trophies, we are making history, winning cups. We are making history and it is good to be part of that history.

"As a club, City now have much more prestige and we are getting better and better. We are just missing that step of winning the Champions League, but doing that will help us grow even more."

Silva has one World Cup and two European Championship winners' medals to go with his haul at City, but the Spaniard says he would "see it as a failure" if he doesn't manage to win the Champions League with the club.

"It is the one thing I want and one day I hope to win it," he said.

"It's difficult playing against big teams like Barcelona, Bayern. But with good, new players, for sure we will have an opportunity to be there fighting and maybe able to do it.

"Juventus reached the final last season, but they were really lucky with the draw. That is the way that the competition is, though."

Silva is not planning a way out of Manchester any time soon but the 29-year-old would love to finish his career with the club he supports, Las Palmas.

"Football is my passion and I live for it," Silva said. "In England, I do my job and I love my job. I would not complain about it.

"The only thing is the weather. It is dark, it's cold, it's raining, but it is football and I enjoy what I do.

"But it is my ultimate ambition to play for Las Palmas.

"People say I should go to Real Madrid or Barcelona, but my team is Las Palmas.

"It is my home and is something I've had from a young boy and would like to play there and end my career there.

"They were the team I supported as a boy and it is very special for everybody on the island that they are back in La Liga.

"The big thing now is for everybody to enjoy it. I still have four years at City and then we will see."