CHAMPIONS 2017/18
WITH the Premier League title now wrapped up for City, there seems to only be one more battle for them to win – the race between Kevin de Bruyne and Mo Salah for the PFA Player of the Year award.
To the disgust of most Blues, Salah is the favourite with the bookmakers to scoop the prize on Sunday night, but when all things are considered, it’s clear the accolade should be given to De Bruyne.
There is no denying Salah has had an incredible season for Liverpool, and nobody expected him to have as big of an impact as he has had since joining Anfield from Roma last summer, but De Bruyne has been in superb form throughout the campaign.
The fact remains the Belgian has helped lead City to the Premier League title and the League Cup this season, and while Salah could yet go on to clinch the Champions League next month, Liverpool are currently without silverware.
The clearest indicator of success has to come down to trophies. As it stands, Salah’s goals look like they’ll only be good enough to land Liverpool third place in the league, meaning it could be their sixth year in a row without a trophy.
In the past three seasons the Player of the Year award has gone to someone at the club who finished as champions. Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante won it in 2017, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez in 2016 and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in 2015.
Those three were all instrumental in helping their side win a trophy in those years, so it only makes sense the award is once again handed to a player who brings success to their team.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane finished as the leading scorer last season, but Chelsea midfielder Kante winning the award shows it isn’t just about scoring goals.
The influence Kante had on the Chelsea side during that campaign helped them finish champions, and it’s been a similar scenario for De Bruyne this season.
David Silva and Fernandinho have massively contributed in midfield as well, but without the Belgian pulling the strings for City, it’s unlikely they would have gone on to have the success they had.
Salah is rightfully getting plaudits for his goalscoring success, having averaged a league goal every 86 minutes this season, but City striker Sergio Aguero isn’t far behind him, with his 21 league goals coming at an average of every 94 minutes.
Salah has played 600 more minutes than Aguero this season, and it’s probable the Argentinian wouldn’t be that far behind him in GOALS ........................................... 7 GOALS PER GAME ............... 0.21 SHOTS ........................................ 80 SHOTS ON TARGET ................. 34 SHOOTING ACCURACY ...... 43% ASSISTS ...................................... 15 PASSES ................................. 2,401 PASSES PER MATCH ......... 72.76 BIG CHANCES CREATED ........ 18 CROSSES ................................. 219 CROSS ACCURACY ............. 27% THROUGH BALLS .................... 33 ACCURATE LONG BALLS ...... 117 TACKLES .................................... 58 FOULS ........................................ 29 OFFSIDES .................................... 2 the scoring ranks if he had featured just as much as the Liverpool man – with De Bruyne pulling the strings.
Despite another prolific season from Aguero, he hasn’t received anywhere near the same level of praise that has gone Salah’s way, and is usually overlooked when it comes to rewards and accolades at the end of a campaign.
It was a pleasant surprise to City fans to see him named in the PFA Team of the Year earlier this week, amazingly the first time he has been part of the side since he joined the club in 2011.
De Bruyne’s lack of goals