FROM EDERSON TO DE BRUYNE, PLAYERS WHO HELPED CITY WIN THE TITLE
DAVID SILVA
Does the Spaniard get the recognition he deserves? In his eight seasons with City, Silva has only once been named the Premier League’s player of the month, and only once made the team of the year. Perhaps his problem is that he makes brilliance seem so routine. The 32-year-old Silva’s game has been elevated again in this free-flowing City side, with his outstanding eye for a pass and unshakeable control in possession key to Guardiola’s system.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
In 2015, some pundits questioned City’s wisdom in paying Wolfsburg 55 million pounds (then $85 million) for a player who struggled previously at Chelsea. Now the 26-year-old Belgian is the best midfielder in the Premier League. If Silva is the magician, De Bruyne is the relentless force — bringing a directness to City’s attacking play. He leads the league in assists but the raw numbers do not tell the story of incredible defense-splitting passes.
SERGIO AGUERO
This time last year it seemed conceivable that Aguero would no longer be at City by now. The Argentine forward took time to gel with Guardiola’s tactics, which require him to be much more than the predator up front. But in a season when he faced questions over his own future and almost saw yet another rival join in the form of Alexis Sanchez, the 29-year-old Aguero has kept netting goals, breaking City’s all-time record along the way. Guardiola’s first City team last season had a number of weaknesses, but the most glaring in that work-in-process was in goal, where Claudio Bravo struggled hugely after joining from Barcelona. Guardiola acted by bringing in Ederson and the difference has been significant. Ederson is not the greatest shot-stopper in the world, but his confidence on the ball has changed the entire feel of City’s defense as they have also conceded the fewest goals at the back. While Raheem Sterling excels on the right wing, Sane hurtles down the left. Sterling has almost doubled his goal tally from any previous season and scored several crucial late goals in the first half of the season, but Sane has netted nine goals and provided valuable assists. As City’s only truly left-sided winger, his absence was notable when injured in February. Sane was slow to settle at first last season has now established himself as a vital part of the squad.