Thierry Henry has his say- The iconic Manchester City star, Kevin De Bruyne is currently on top this season. He has a tally of 16 assists in the Premier League. The France football legend holds it with 20 assists he made in Arsenal’s invincible 2002-03 season. The midfielder has been on fire this term. It has been one of his best seasons so far. Unfortunately, football had to be stopped due to the pandemic.
De Bruyne spoke in an interview with The Athletic’s Ornstein & Chapman Podcast and had stated, “To have 16 assists is nice and speaks well for a creative player. But if it does not happen we still go on.”
The City star joked, “When you get something [a record] it fills you with pride because I had it in Germany and it is nice to see you broke some records. To be honest, I feel like I am on 17 – I know they took one away from me at Arsenal.”
“Do not know why they did it, I still do not understand it. I always joked with Henry in the national team, even at Vincent Kompany’s testimonial this year. I saw him and said I am coming for you this year.”
What Thierry Henry Went On To Add About Kevin De Bruyne?
De Bruyne is one of the contenders for this season’s PFA Player of the year alongside Manchester City’s player of the season as well. That has not been good enough to win City the Premier League this season.
Thierry Henry has admitted De Bruyne can catch his record but also provokes him to say that he scored 24 goals with those assists in 2003.
“When you see Kevin [De Bruyne]… because the other day he told me that he was willing and trying to provide more than 20 assists. He has 16 already, right?”
“Yeah that is right, 16, and the record in a season is 20. And I hold the record. So he said the other day that he wants to beat it. But I told him that with those 20 assists, you will have to score 24 goals as well! Not only assists!”
Sergio Aguero then defended his City teammate, by adding that it was complicated to do both. He added that maybe for getting noticed, he would have to provide 30, 35 assists to compensate for the goals. However, Henry quickly hit back, saying: “I know, I was just kidding! To provoke him.”
The Overall Conclusion
There are some Premier League greats in the assists list in the English top flight. After Henry, there is Mesut Ozil and another Gunner who is in the second position with 19 assists. Cesc Fabregas registered 18 assists in the 2014-15 campaign under Jose Mourinho where he helped the Chelsea side to win the League title after four years.
Current Chelsea boos Lampard is in the fourth position with 18 assists in the season 2004-05, the very first season of Mourinho in England. De Bruyne registered the same in the 2016-17 season for Manchester City, the first season of Pep Guardiola as a manager of Manchester City. They are currently in the second position in the Premier League table 25 points behind the leaders Liverpool.
