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City's Silva feels like a 'supporting actor' with Spain

David Silva does not feel loved by Vicente del Bosque © Getty Images

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Manchester City playmaker David Silva admits he feels like a 'supporting actor' in the Spain national team, as Vicente del Bosque frequently overlooks him.

Silva, who was started the season in fine form for his club, was a member of his country's World Cup winning squad in 2010 - although he was relegated to the substitutes' bench after starting in the side's opening defeat to Switzerland.

Having subsequently failed to force his way into the first team since making the move from Valencia to Manchester, Silva is beginning to get frustrated with the situation.

"I think that I am only a secondary actor," Silva said, in quotes run by both Marca and AS. "The coach does not have confidence in me.

"With other coaches never have I noticed this sensation. I think my performance is positive but not sufficient for the coach.

"In South Africa I was the only victim of the defeat against the Swiss... and it has been more or less the same ever since.

"[But] It is not easy to start in the first eleven of Spain because of the quality of players."

Silva feels there is a bias towards players plying their trade in La Liga - especially those at either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

"Sometimes I think that if I had ended up at one of those clubs it wouldn't have hindered me as much," he said.

As for his club fortunes, Silva is confident City can challenge for the Premier League title - although he was wary of comparing the two Manchester clubs' early dominance to that seen every year by Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"It may seem so, but do not forget about Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal," Silva noted. "Last year we were a good team. With the reinforcements and experience, we are now much better."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.