Pep Guardiola has apologised to ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard whose Premier League assist record looks set to be broken by Kevin De Bruyne - in fewer than half the games.
The Aston Villa boss racked up 92 assists in 504 league games during his 17-year spell on Merseyside, placing him seventh on the all-time list. But De Bruyne looks set to break that imminently, with the Belgian maestro on 89 from just 214 matches - a whole 290 less than Reds legend Gerrard.
And the 31-year-old could inch closer to 92 when his City side travel to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon. And Guardiola has jokingly apologised to Gerrard that his tally will be broken so comfortably by the City playmaker, but added that the former England international won’t mind being bettered by the magician.
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“I’m sorry for Steven Gerrard but his record will be beaten sooner or later,” Guardiola joked. “I'm pretty sure that Gerrard would be happy if someone beats his record if it’s a player like Kevin.
“He always gives a good example for other generations, for the kids of how to be a football player and behave. As a player he is exceptional, he can do whatever he wants and hopefully he can maintain this level for a long time.”
Gerrard is under huge pressure already at Villa, having won just one game from five this season. And things won’t get any easier for the Liverpudlian, who faces a relentless City side and a striker in Erling Haaland who has consecutive hat-tricks.
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