Feature

Can Otamendi pass Kane test?

By Will Rickson 14 Apr 2018
Spurs striker Harry Kane and Nicolas Otamendi of Manchester City

If Man City defender can shackle Spurs striker it will allow him to focus on his own attacking game, writes Sky Sports' Will Rickson

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Harry Kane continues his quest for a third successive Golden Boot when he faces Manchester City on Saturday.

However, Pep Guardiola's side arrive at Wembley Stadium with not only the best attack in the Premier League this season, but also the fewest goals conceded. Nicolas Otamendi has been a key part of that defensive record, writes skysports.com's Will Rickson.

Kane v Otamendi

This is set to be the fifth PL meeting between Kane and Otamendi.

Tottenham Hotspur have won two of those, drawing once and losing once. Kane has scored two goals, albeit one being a penalty.

The Spurs striker trails Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot, with 25 goals compared with the Liverpool forward’s 29.

Yet he has hardly been shot-shy. Indeed, Kane has had the most shots in the league this season, with 164, and the most on target, with 67.

Only twice in the last 10 campaigns have any players exceeded Kane’s average this season of 5.79 shots per 90 minutes.

Most shots/90 mins - last 10 seasons
Season Player Shots/90
2009/10 Wayne Rooney 6.02
2008/09 Cristiano Ronaldo 5.93
2017/18 Harry Kane 5.79
2009/10 Didier Drogba 5.78
2012/13 Luis Suarez 5.70

Yet Kane was restricted to only three attempts, with one on target, when Spurs last faced Man City, losing 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium in December.

Otamendi will hope to keep Kane similarly quiet on Saturday, allowing him to focus on his own specialty: contributing to Man City’s build-up play with his passes out of defence.

His 86 successful passes per 90 minutes is the highest average of any player in the last 10 PL seasons.

Looking at the leading player in each of those campaigns, it is notable that Otamendi is the only defender. The previous leaders were all midfield playmakers.

Most successful passes per 90 mins
Season Club Player Successful passes/90
2017/18 MCI Nicolas Otamendi 86
2016/17 CHE Cesc Fabregas 76
2015/16 ARS Santi Cazorla 77
2014/15 MCI Yaya Toure 82
2013/14 ARS Mikel Arteta 74
2012/13 ARS Mikel Arteta 76
2011/12 MUN Paul Scholes 81
2010/11 MUN Paul Scholes 72
2009/10 MUN Paul Scholes 67
2008/09 LIV Xabi Alonso 74

But the Man City centre-back’s primary focus on Saturday will be dealing with the threat of Kane, and helping the leaders edge closer to their third PL title.

See: Skysports.com’s Premier League features

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