Football
ESPN staff 9y

Pablo Zabaleta, Man City Premier League Rank, No. 33

« Previous: No. 34, Leighton Baines | Next: No. 32, Ander Herrera »

Welcome to ESPN FC's #PremRank.

ESPN FC is counting down the top 50 players in the Premier League right now, as voted for by various columnists, editors and analysts. Who makes the cut? Disagree with our list? Tell us on Twitter using the hashtag #PremRank.

Why Pablo Zabaleta makes the list

Right to the end of City's feeble title challenge, Zabaleta was raging against the dying of the light bouncing off the Premier League trophy as it was finally carried away from the Etihad. The Argentine was one of the few still fighting, still providing the fire. That was so rare, which is why it stood out all the more. City's form may have wavered wildly throughout the entire campaign, but Zabaleta's didn't. No matter what kind of state his teammates were in, he was still trying to make those key last-ditch tackles, still making life tough for opposition attackers, still surging up that wing.

City did revive their most rousing football around the turn of the year, but it says so much about Zabaleta's importance that the team's most lively new move was based around the fullback cutting inside to try that little chip. He has grown into a real leader, having long developed into one of the best right-backs in the world. If City are to have a cull, Zabaleta certainly shouldn't be going.
- Miguel Delaney

The stats that tell the story

- Led Man City and tied for sixth in the league with 77 tackles this season.
- Scored his usual one Premier League goal against Sunderland in December. He has scored at least one but no more than two league goals in each of the past five seasons.

What the experts say

"City really miss him when he's not there. Others are able to defend as well as he does, but it is when City are in possession of the ball that his influence is missed." - David Mooney

"A defender who does much more than just defend ... He has accuracy as well as brute force." - Richard Jolly


« Previous: No. 34, Leighton Baines | Next: No. 32, Ander Herrera »

^ Back to Top ^