To what extent are these ten teams reliant on one player, we rank each of these stars…
The phrase ‘one-man team’ is perhaps used too often in football. After all, even the best players need a good team around them to supply them with chances to score, or players too pass to. But we think we might have found ten clubs overlay reliant on one player.
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We rank them below, and also decide just how reliant each club is on their top performer:
10) Paris Saint Germain – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The big Swede has been imperious form throughout his time with PSG, and his goals have played a huge part in their success. But the club’s league form has stuttered this season, despite Zlatan’s return of 16 goals in 20 games for all competitions, suggesting the problem lies elsewhere.
Reliance Rating: 4/10
9) Manchester City – Sergio Aguero
After a stuttering start to the season, pundits feared the worst when Sergio Aguero picked up any injury. But if anything, City’s form has improved in his absence. That’s not say he’s not been missed, but the champions have proved they are able to cope.
Reliance Rating: 4/10
8) Swansea City – Wilfried Bony
The top scorer in the Premier League during 2014, his goals have proved decisive in firing Swansea up the table. Will they cope if he leaves for Manchester City this month? The Swans have sold their star man in the past and coped, you have to think they will again.
Reliance Rating: 5/10
7) Udinese – Antonio di Natale
He may be 37, but Di Natale is still banging in the goals for Udinese, with eight already this season. The club are starting to look towards the future these days, but it will still come as a huge blow when he eventually hangs up his boots.
Reliance Rating: 5/10
6) Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo
A surprise inclusion? Real Madrid have a whole team of international superstars after all. No, this selection is more a testament to the Portuguese’s brilliance. With 285 goals in 274 games for the club, who wouldn’t be reliant on that sort of quality.
Reliance Rating: 6/10
5) Liverpool – Daniel Sturridge
Liverpool with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge – title contenders – without, not even top four contenders. Sturridge was supposed to fill the void left by Suarez’s departure this season, and how badly they’ve missed him is plain to see.
Reliance Rating: 7/10
4) Lyon – Alexandre Lacazette
There’s a reason why Europe’s elite are circling around this young Frenchman. He’s grabbed 21 goals in 21 games this season, including ten in the last six matches, propelling his side up the league. Surely he won’t still be there past next summer.
Reliance Rating: 7/10
3) Queen Park Rangers – Charlie Austin
Where would QPR be without Charlie Austin? Bottom probably. They’re second bottom anyway after all. The England hopeful has scored 13 of Rangers 23 league goals, and they’d have been cut adrift if it were not for him.
Reliance Rating: 8/10
2) Tottenham Hotspur – Harry Kane
The same of course could be said of another future England international, Harry Kane, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions so far this season, even causing his manager to admit that his team are replying too much on their new star.
Reliance Rating: 9/10
1) Arsenal – Alexis Sanchez
But Arsenal still sneak ahead of their North London rivals – as always – in this list. Sanchez has been simply brilliant so far this season, and you truly have to wonder how they would have coped without the Chilean.
Reliance Rating: 9/10
SEE ALSO: Arsenal transfer news