TO TITLE RIVALS 2.82 2,902 FIVE 25 15
their style of play, with De Bruyne claiming the journey over the season was far more satisfying than the titleclinching moment.
“I’ve enjoyed the whole season,” he said. “Sometimes the journey is better than the end. It’s a quick moment of enjoyment, when you look back it’s been a great season.
“The team’s been great, everybody has done their part, then you have to feel happy. It’s not always the end result – MANCHESTER CITY could dominate for years to come at home and abroad when you consider the ages of many of the core of their Premier League title-winning squad. okay, it’s the most important – but in the end you live 250 days to enjoy an hour, a few days.
“It fills you with happiness but we need to enjoy the journey. The way we performed and stuck together showed we are the best team.”
De Bruyne hailed the impact Guardiola has made in his second season, having suffered a trophy-less debut campaign.
“Everyone knows he’s one of the best coaches in the world,” he added. “To achieve what he’s achieved is special and to be part of a group of players led by him can only help us to keep developing.
“He came in two years ago and changed the way we play.
“That takes time to adapt to, but we’ve developed together and this season is a reward for all that work.
“We want to continue playing the way we have and become stronger. He’s a big part of that and hopefully these can be his first trophies of many here at City.”
the record top-flight winning run achieved by City between August 26 against Bournemouth and December 27 at Newcastle. Crystal Palace ended the sequence with a goalless draw on New Year’s Eve defeats this season, to Liverpool in January and United with the title on the line. Everton, Palace and Burnley are the only other teams to take points off City this term City are only eight
Kevin De Bruyne leads the top flight in assists. City have the top three in that category with Sane on 12 and Silva 11
Goals ............................. 93 Goal conceded .............. 25 Home wins .................... 14 Away wins ..................... 14 Shots on target ......... 234 Total Shots ................. 447 Chances created ........ 441 Passes ................... 24,193 Touches ................ 30,214 Passing acc ....... 88.76% Ave possession ... 71.22% Successful passes..21,473 Chances scored ....... 60
points off Chelsea’s record for a Premier League season, set in 2004-05. Three more wins will be enough to set a new mark goals per game, leaving City on course to beat Chelsea’s 2009-10 record for a Premier League season of 103 (2.71 per game) goals conceded, the best record in this season’s top flight clean sheets, ranking second in the league behind United (16) Defender Nicolas Otamendi has completed the most passes in the Premier League this season, with midfielders Fernandinho and De Bruyne also in the top five City have won the title with five games remaining, equalling the record set by United in the 2000-01 campaign
Liverpool (78) Man Utd (26) Arsenal/mu (13) Tottenham (10) Liverpool (212) Liverpool (419) Liverpool (440) Arsenal (20,798) Arsenal (26,977) Chelsea (84.28%) Arsenal (62.43%) Arsenal (17,520) Liverpool 45
Top-scorer Sergio Aguero’s league goal tally this season, third in the division behind Liverpool’s Mo Salah & Harry Kane
City’s 18-game winning run from August to December was the longest ever in the English top flight, also pre-dating the Premier League era. Along the way they amassed a record-equalling 11 successive away wins, a feat previously achieved by Chelsea in 2008. Chelsea hold the record with 95 in the 2004-05 season. City are on 87 so three wins from their five games will take them to a new mark, while two wins, two draws and a loss will equal the record. The first 100-point haul remains possible with at least four wins and a draw.
Manchester United won the 1999-2000 title by a record 18 points with 91 to Arsenal’s 73. City lead by 16.
Again the record belongs to Chelsea, this time the 2009-10 title winners who scored 103 goals. City are on 93 so need 11 in five games. Only three teams have passed 100, with City and Liverpool scoring 102 and 101 respectively in 2013-14, so seven more will see them become the first club to achieve the feat twice. At +68, City are within three of the goal difference record of +71 set by Chelsea in that 2009-10 season.
Chelsea’s record of 30 victories last season may last only a year if City can add another three to their current 28. If they win their remaining away games, at West Ham on April 29 and Southampton on May 13, they will surpass the Blues’ 2004-05 record of 15 wins on the road. Thierry Henry, for Arsenal in 2002-03, is the only player to reach 20 assists in a Premier League season. While it may be a long shot, Kevin De Bruyne is five adrift. David Silva and Leroy Sane are also in double figures and if Raheem Sterling, figwith currently on eight, can join them they will be the first team ever four players reaching that mark. City have drawn only three games so far, level with Chelsea’s record from both 1997-98 and last season.