Manchester City midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne is excited to win the Premier LeagueAssist of the season award with his 20th against already relegated Norwich City that equals Thierry Henry’s record.
Although his season was disturbed by little injuries, De Bruyne made 32 starts for City in the Premier League this season and made three substitute appearances. Henry’s total in 2002-03 came was from 37 starts.
However, de Bruyne felt he would have been on his own if two assists had been added to his tally after making his 20th league goal of the 2019-20 campaign when he set up Raheem Sterling during the 5-0 win against Norwich on Sunday.
He was making a reference to a cross he gave Sterling to score against Arsenal in December that took a slight deflection. The second was also a through-ball for the England international that hit David Luiz on the thigh against the same opponents in June.
“I have got two more – you guys took two away from me that I am still claiming so for me I was already above [Henry].
“It is what it is. I need my team-mates, obviously, I am creating for them to score, and I am grateful when they do. It is nice to have [the record] and it is nice to have it with Thierry.”
“My role is to create as many chances as I can, and help the team get in front of the goal – and then I am hoping they will finish it. They do it a lot of times so I am very grateful for that.”
De Bruyne had during the 2016-17 season created 18 assists. He now has a total of 66 assists in 154 Premier League games.
De Bruyne now in top 20 assists in Premier League
In relation to his success, De Bruyne is now in 15th place on the all-time Premier League assists list since 1992, which is led by Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs with 162.
Most Assist in a single premier league season.
- Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) 2019-20 20
- Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 2002-03 20
- Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) 2015-16 19
- Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) 2016-17 18
- Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea) 2014-15 18
- Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 2004-05 18
- Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 2007-08 17
- Eric Cantona (Man Utd) 1992-93 16
- Kevin de Bruyne (Man City) 2017-18 16
De Bruyne has been the Premier League’s most consistent provider, having already gone close on several occasions to equalling the Arsenal legend. Apart from the 18 assists recorded in the 2016-17 season, the midfielder also managed 16 the following year. He had assisted to 20 for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga back in 2014-15.
Apart from his 66 assists in the English top-flight so far, he has netted 36 goals.
Manchester City is still the highest scoring side in the Premier League
Meanwhile, City has become their record is the most scoring side in the English top division this season by outscoring Premier League champions Liverpool by 17 goals, netting 102 to their 85.
Out of the goals scored, 33 came from the contribution of De Bruyne’s, as the Belgian chipped in with 13 strikes as well as his 20 assists.
