Many Manchester City fans have been reacting on social media after Joleon Lescott claimed Kevin de Bruyne is yet to match Yaya Toure’s best season at the Etihad Stadium.
Lescott made his claim whilst speaking on BT Sport and suggested that despite De Bruyne’s brilliance, the Belgian needs to maintain his ‘remarkable’ displays over a prolonged period if he is to eclipse Toure’s impact at the club.
De Bruyne has proven himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe since returning to the Premier League for a second crack at life in England after his Chelsea struggles, which he put firmly behind him with 66 assists and 36 goals in 152 top-flight outings.
The 29-year-old also equalled Thierry Henry’s long-standing Premier League record for the most assists in a single season, with De Bruyne’s final day set up against Norwich City enough to move onto 20 for the campaign – a tally Arsenal great Henry set in 2002/03.
De Bruyne paired his 20 assists with 13 goals over 35 appearances as a favourite of manager Pep Guardiola, too, but Lescott is adamant that Toure’s remarkable 20 goal, nine assist campaign from the centre of the Citizens midfield in 2013/14 remains the more impressive feat.
“What [De Bruyne’s] doing and the impact he’s having on every game is remarkable. He’s setting a new standard,” Lescott said, via quotes by the Manchester Evening News.
“I think if he continues to do this for another three or four years, he’s in the conversation [of being a Premier League great].”
Lescott went on to add “no, he’s got to do it for a little bit longer” when questioned if De Bruyne’s efforts eclipse those set by Toure.
“Yaya’s best season outweighs Kevin’s. He scored 20 goals in that season, in 13/14.”
Despite De Bruyne’s brilliance, there are some City fans who agree with Toure’s claim…
There’s only one @YayaToure
— 11th August (@ever_greatness) August 9, 2020
We would be a league title down without Yaya and you can’t say the same for kdb tbh
— Dylan🇦🇺🇳🇴 (@McfcDylan2019) August 9, 2020
I want to hate on this but Yaya was absolutely huge. 13/14 he gave us everything he has left in the tank, never the same after that season
— JD (@JDKullman) August 9, 2020
Others vigorously opposed Lescott’s suggestion as while there is no doubt Toure was a superstar, it is ‘ridiculous’ to suggest the Ivorian’s efforts were more impressive than the Belgian’s.
Yaya was a great player, but we all know kdb should have had more than 20 assits plus ksb has like what 11/12 goals with the 20 assits he has 💯💯
— KING KOULIBALY 🇧🇼 (@KINGKOULIBALY4) August 9, 2020
Ridiculous comment. Yaya is not even in De Bruynes shadow.
— Frank Heukels (@H3ukels) August 9, 2020
I think KDB can better it next season if he is injury free.. As he will be on penalties from the start & probably take most free kicks with Silva gone. Not saying he will score 20 but can definitely get around 15 plus an incredible assists tally.
— Livingthedream (@Lemtini) August 9, 2020
i mean yaya was great but to compare him to kdb
— Addy (@mcity1964) August 9, 2020
De Bruyne will go on to be city’s greatest ever player
— Luke Robinson (@tfk1985) August 9, 2020
For some City fans, there simply is no worth in comparing De Bruyne and Toure as the two played in different ways, with the Ivorian a brute force who terrorised defenders while the Belgian has the skill and talent to make backlines disappear with his passing.
The difference between them is Kev can see the pass that neutralises the entire defence, Yaya used to just take all those guys on himself and appear on the other side still with the ball.
— John George (@Boyraceruk) August 9, 2020