Man City are on the brink of Premier League history.
Actually, they are on the brink of several histories.
One more win this season and they will set a new record for: most wins, most points and (if they score more than one) most goals.
They have several other records in their sights, including one they may not even be aware of…
History is there for the takingPA:Press Association
At the time of writing, the top four assist providers in the league all play for the same team.
Just take a moment to consider how difficult that is to achieve.
Kevin De Bruyne leads the way with 15, followed by Leroy Sane with 12, and then David Silva and Raheem Sterling level on 11.
Never before in Premier League history have a team finished the season with the four outright top assist providers.
In fact, only once has a team featured the league’s top three assist providers — Liverpool in 1995/96 with Steve McManaman (15), Stan Collymore (11) and John Barnes (10).
Umm, yeah, that lotGetty - Contributor
Since then a few teams have distributed the selfless duties admirably in unknowing pursuit of top four sweep.
David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham finished 1st, =6th, 8th and =14th respectively in 2000/01.
Chelsea came close to having four players in the top ten in 2009/10 — Nicolas Anelka needed one more assist to join Florent Malouda (=7th), Didier Drogba (4th) and Frank Lampard (1st).
Steven Gerrard (13) and Luis Suarez (12) were first and second in their fateful 2013/14 season.
While Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson were equal 13th on seven assists each that same campaign.
However, no team has come close to what Man City may achieve this season.
Not crying about the assist record…Reuters
In a way, it would be the perfect record for a Pep Guardiola team.
His philosophy promotes selflessness.
He goes ballistic on the touchline if one of his players opts to shoot rather than passing to a team-mate in a better position.
Guardiola’s Barcelona were almost comical in their desire to assist each other.
At times it bordered on caricature and parody; how they’d be presented with a glorious shooting chance only to somehow spot a team-mate with an open goal opportunity at the last moment.
To me, to youAFP - Getty
And yet, not even that great team managed a quartet of standalone top La Liga assist providers.
Xavi, Lionel Messi and Dani Alves occupied the top three places in 2009/10, but no other Guardiola team has come close.
Until now…AFP or licensors
Sane and Sterling are two of only eight players to have reached double figures in terms of both goals and assists in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Messi, Neymar, Memphis Depay, Luis Alberto, Florian Thauvin and Christian Eriksen are the others.
It’s a rare feat.
And yet, it’s entirely possible Man City could end the season with four players having achieved the double.
De Bruyne needs two more goals to reach double figures while Silva is just one strike away.
People will still be talking about these two in 20 years timeGetty - Contributor
City’s remaining fixtures see them host Huddersfield and Brighton before travelling to Southampton on the final day of the season.
They’ll be targeting three wins and at least ten goals.
Eriksen, Dele Alli and Paul Pogba (all ten) are the biggest threats to their assist-leading foursome, but the ‘bluewash’ is most definitely on.
And what a fitting record it would be for a tremendous team and magnificent manager.
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win £10k!READ MORE:
Remembering Steven Gerrard’s dramatic firstseason as Rangers manager It will be a disgrace if Real Madrid don’t give Barcelona a guard of honour The incredible story of how Mohamed Salah went from wasteful winger to Ballon d’Or favourite
0 comments:
Post a Comment