There were some special guests as Manchester City kept their Premier League title hopes on track with a 5-1 win over Wolves on Saturday.
Arjen Robben lifted two Premier League titles with Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
Manchester City legend David Silva was in the stands as his former side hammered Wolves at the Etihad on Saturday but it was an ex-Chelsea star who was in the home dressing room afterwards. After Arsenal had beaten Bournemouth earlier in the day, Pep Guardiola’s side responded in the perfect manner by beating Wolves 5-1.
Erling Haaland struck four times as the champions moved back within a point of the leaders, but crucially, have a game in hand over the Gunners. And Arjen Robben was there to see City’s sixth straight Premier League win, nearly 17 years after the Dutchman himself left English football.
The 40-year-old played from 2013-16 under Guardiola at Bayern Munich, a period which yielded three straight Bundesliga titles and two domestic doubles. Robben has since publicly talked about the Spaniard’s strive for perfection, describing how he often called players late at night to discuss tactics and team matters.
And according to the Daily Mail, Robben was invited by his ex-boss to meet his squad in the immediate aftermath of the final whistle. And the man who won 11 titles across three different countries in his own career reportedly congratulated the players and urged them to keep up the pressure on the leaders.
David Silva was also at the Etihad. (Image: Getty)
Manchester wasn’t the only footballing venue that Robben graced on his visit to the UK though. On Sunday, pictures on social media emerged of him in the players’ area at Anfield, alongside former Bayern team-mate Thiago Alacantra.
Again, the 2013 Champions League winner was able to watch a six-goal encounter, with Liverpool beating Tottenham 4-2. Both matches would have been appreciated by Robben, who as a player was renowned for captivating fans with his attacking play.
Robben was signed for Chelsea by Jose Mourinho after he’s arrived at the club in 2004. After a scintillating star at Stanford Bridge, his three-season stay was tainted by injury problems, although he did play a prominent role in the club winning back-to-back league titles.
Manchester City are keeping the pressure on Arsenal after beating Wolves (Image: Getty)
A £24 million move to Real Madrid and a La Liga crown followed, before joining Bayern in 2009. In the 10 years that followed, he cemented his status as one of the greatest to ever play for the German giants, scoring 144 times in 309 appearances, including the winner at Wembley to seal European glory against Borussia Dortmund.
Having retired in 2019, he made a brief comeback to help Dutch team FC Groningen, after the club lost players due to financial difficulties following the Covid-19 pandemic. But he managed just six appearances before hanging up his boots for good.