Bengaluru, March 3: When Manchester City won the EFL cup against Arsenal by scoring three goals, there was something incredible about the goal scorers. They were all part of the first generation of successful Manchester City players. These players have been a part of Manchester City since 2011 and considering how City buys and disposes players that is an achievement. David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany won their third EPL cup as City players.

These players have outlasted Joe Hart, Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov, Jesus Navas and Gael Clichy. They have been important to Manchester City in every title challenge or cup win and along with Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, they form an ageing spine that is helping a slow transition of power and responsibility towards the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.

Vincent Kompany joined City from Hamburg in 2008, he might be getting old and what he could have provided City has been brutally curtailed by injuries. Nonetheless, he has been trusted by Guardiola to be his captain and he has performed admirably for them when available. Players like Kompany are grandmasters whose presence is enough to bring the dressing room together. His experience of winning many titles with Manchester City will definitely help younger players around him.

In 2011 Sergio Aguero signed for Manchester City from Atletico Madrid for 38 million pounds. It might have been quite expensive back then but considering he has scored 199 goals for them so far, that investment seems like a bargain. In the beginning of Guardiola's tenure there was a feeling that his time at City was winding down and his impending replacement, Gabriel Jesus, would take over. However, Aguero has knuckled down, contributed to his team with goals and helped Jesus settle in by becoming his strike partner.

Every team has a magician and City's current magician is Kevin De Bruyne but we tend to forget that there is another in the team who is still pulling strings. David Silva is 32 years old but still going strong for Manchester City, he has definitely helped the likes of De Bruyne, Sane and Sterling shine through his fluid style of football. His ability to quickly turn in tight spaces has been valuable to City's brand of attacking football. Moreover, he has chipped in with 58 goals and 78 assists over 8 seasons which goes to show how he has been performing at the highest level.

These players are not just important for experience, what they bring to the dressing room and a new manager who wishes to settle in is what makes them truly valuable. These players have been around from Mancini to Pellegrini and now Guardiola. They have definitely brought a sense of continuity not just for the club but for the fans as well. With Manchester City's ambition to dominate Europe and the premier league for decades to come, players like these are invaluable.