"United will be there for sure," Silva said. "They are attracting much better players, and will be there challenging for sure.
"But we have been up there now for a few seasons, so United now have a lot more respect for us.
"When I came to City, it was different. Maybe that was not the case [that United showed respect].
"They 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."
At 29, Silva has a medal haul that only the superstars of Real Madrid and Barcelona can surpass, with one World Cup and two European Championship winners' medals alongside two Premier League titles and wins in both the FA Cup and Capital One Cup.
The Champions League remains the itch that the Spanish midfielder has yet to scratch. City's tale of woe in the competition has been compounded by successive pairings with Barcelona in the round of 16 over the past two seasons.
But with City adding the 49 million ($116 million) England winger Raheem Sterling to their squad this summer, and efforts to sign Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne continuing, Silva is confident the club's wait for Champions League glory will end soon.
He says he would see it as a failure if he doesn't win the Champions League at City.
"It is the one thing I want and one day I hope to win it.
"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 goes into the campaign having been given an extended summer break by City manager Manuel Pellegrini after a relentless schedule of football in which he went four years without an uninterrupted closed season.
During his break, Silva spent more than a month in his native Gran Canaria, where he helped promote construction of a beach at the resort of Anfi Tauro, near the fishing village of Arguineguin where he was raised.
While international commit-ments with Spain and pre-season tours with City appear to have done little to blunt his edge, Silva believes the fatigue factor is exacerbated by playing in the Premier League.
"This time it was really necessary to have a real break," Silva said.
"You need longer time to relax and let the body recover a lot more.
"I have had knee and ankle injuries in recent seasons, so it was time to listen to my body.
"Because there was no summer tournament this year, there was more holiday available, so I joined up with the squad on pre-season in Australia, rather than a week earlier in Manchester.
"I spent all of my time in Gran Canaria, enjoying some quality time with my family, being able to relax in these islands.
"Even if I get three days free during the season, I come over always to take advantage of the surroundings here."
With four years left on his City contract, Silva is in no hurry to seek a return to Spain or leave Manchester.
While the likes of former City teammate Alvaro Negredo or United's expensive misfit Angel Di Maria quickly pursued a move away from Manchester after struggling to adjust to life in the north of England, Silva has belied his upbringing in the Canary Islands by settling into Mancunian life. And although he dislikes the "cold and darkness" of English winters, he says the anonymity he enjoys comes freely in Manchester. But when it ends at City, he admits he will have one remaining ambition - a return home to play for Las Palmas, the team from his island which has just returned to La Liga for the first time in 14 years.
"Football is my passion and I live for it," Silva said. "In England, I do my job and I love my job.
"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 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."
For now, though, Silva remains focused on City and ensuring they retain their position as top dogs in Manchester while pursuing glory in the Champions League.
"I was young when I went to City and I still want to play there," Silva said. "I want to be important in the team and win titles in all competitions. It is always in my mind to become better.
"I am an attacking midfielder and I have scored goals, but I want to score more and win more."
