LAKE Lunch with a Football Legend HANDS OFF! Super Sergio a class above
PAUL LAKE, 47, played for Man City and England represented
Under- 21s and team. He had B
an early career, outstanding Youth winning the
Cup in 1986 FA City win and helping
promotion from Second Division. the old anterior But a ruptured
cruciate ligament meant several in 1990 with years struggling
knee injuries. on to spend Paul went club ten years as physio before a in working ambassador
ial roles. wavelength as David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure means danger for any opposition.
How many other players today can measure up to Sergio – on or off the field?
You never hear any scandal about him. You very rarely read anything about him. He seems to be very humble.
And there’s a real fondness around him when you see him with the other City lads. When he scores goals and they all celebrate, you feel it’s a genuine affection between Sergio and his team-mates, which is lovely to see.
Don’t get me wrong, he is a street fighter. When you grow up playing football in South America, you know it’s going to be a rough ride. You get a sense of that.
But I just think he’s very measured. He can get frustrated like every player can when it’s not going his way. He realises that if he shows any emotion he might lose the psychological battle.
You can’t second-guess what he’s thinking. You don’t know where his head is. And for a centre-half, that always unnerves you. You see Diego Costa and you know where he’s at.
You know he’s flailing his arms and uses that to his advantage. He plays a bit of a psychological game but you can’t even get into any kind of mind battle with Sergio as he just doesn’t let you in.
The lad is very controlled. He knows what he needs to do and that’s a real skill all on its own.
So he definitely has the intelligence and superb ability to be a Galactico.
I’m sure Barca and Real Madrid will have been having conversations about him but seem to have concluded that he’s happy in Manchester and he’s going to see out his contract.
Maybe it’s been said that no amount of cash will get him. City fans will be very grateful for that.