Manchester City did what now?
The Premier League soon-to-be runners-up set a league record for passing on Wednesday in a 5-0 blowout of Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
Led by David Silva in a vintage performance, Pep Guardiola’s men completed 787-of-840 passes according to Opta.
Silva completed 104 of those passes at 94 percent, and City’s 93.7 completion rate is the best percentage since the league started keeping passing data 17 years ago.
That includes an almost absurd 42-of-48 (86 percent) on long passes (nuts!). Rodri only misplaced one of his 50 passes and striker Gabriel Jesus completed all of his 21 passes despite playing in the thick of the final third.
Here’s Pep Guardiola, who likes a pass, y’know? From the BBC:“We played really good all the games but unfortunately dropped points. In general the way we are playing and the performances are really good. ... David Silva is a huge competitor, playing in the small spaces he is a fantastic player. He played really good.”
Sometimes it’s better to get feedback from the people on the other end.
Steve Bruce really put a bow on facing City on Wednesday.
“Interview in the rain after being beaten 5-0, painful. Not as half as painful as watching that. We are disappointing but they were far too good for us, we have to do better, we gifted them some goals and you cannot do that against a team of this caliber.”
No kidding. City finishes with Brighton, Bournemouth, Watford, and Norwich City and also had to contest an FA Cup semifinal, possible final, and the Champions League next month.
93.7 - Manchester City completed 93.7% of their passes against Newcastle (787/840), the highest recorded figure in a Premier League game since full passing data is available (2003-04). Pollock. pic.twitter.com/RDlj2DRUjS
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 8, 2020
