DE BRUYNE: COMPARISON WITH SALAH ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ TO MAKE FOOTBALL
▶ City midfielder says it is hard to call between him and Egyptian for Player of the Year award
Kevin de Bruyne said his fellow footballers face an impossible choice between him and Mohamed Salah for the PFA Player of the Year award.
The Manchester City midfielder added that he merits the accolade after surprising himself with his level of performance this season, but conceded the Liverpool winger has been “incredible” in his own performances.
Salah is the Premier League’s top scorer with 29 but De Bruyne has the most assists, with 15, and he said their differences make it hard to judge who has been better over the course of the season.
“You cannot compare – it is impossible,” the Belgian said. “Salah has a remarkable goalscoring run, and he plays very well like an inside forward type of role. This season he has been incredible. He has been outstanding, his record speaks for itself.
“With the statistics how are we going to compare ourselves? It’s totally different, I played [on Saturday at Everton] like a defensive midfielder. How you can compare me to an inside forward? I have no idea.”
De Bruyne has been the outstanding individual in a City team who could clinch the Premier League title at its earliest date on Saturday if they are triumphant against Manchester United and are on course to beat Chelsea’s divisional records of 95 points and 103 goals.
He scored the winner when City beat defending champions Chelsea in September and has added goals against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
“If I get it, it would be nice for the team and for me,” De Bruyne said.
“In one way, I believe I deserve it, because I have been very consistent in my form. I am very happy with myself, I am very pleased with how I have played, I didn’t expect to be this good this season, to be honest.
“I think there is almost no game where my standard has dropped, so I have been very constant, and I am very happy with myself. To maintain the level the amount of games I have played, the amount of minutes, I am very pleased with that.”
The 26-year-old has long been the frontrunner to become the first City player to be named PFA Player of the Year since the award was first introduced in 1974, but Salah’s run of 16 goals in 14 games has propelled him into consideration for the prize.
Stoke City striker Peter Crouch, Bournemouth forward Jermain Defoe and Leicester City’s title-winning defender Danny Simpson are among those who have revealed they are voting for the former Roma player.
De Bruyne said he is yet to cast his ballot in the annual voting, though players are barred from choosing themselves or teammates.
De Bruyne may suffer if the City vote is split, with teammates such as David Silva, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling potentially getting the backing of some of their peers, but said it will come down to which characteristics his fellow professionals value most.
“I think it depends on what people are looking for in a player,” he said.
Salah, who has struck 37 times in all competitions, is on course to beat the Premier League record of 34 goals in a one season.
The Egyptian is the top scorer in any of Europe’s five major leagues, and has also proved prolific in the Uefa Champions League.
Now Europe offers a chance to compare the pair again with City visiting Liverpool tomorrow for the first leg of their Uefa Champions League quarter-final.
“It is all or nothing,” said De Bruyne of the tie.
How can you compare me to an inside forward? I have no idea KEVIN DE BRUYNE On vying with Mohamed Salah for PFA Player of the Year