The Premier League season is coming to an end and it’s time for the rewards. The English Premier League has revealed the eight lucky winners who were named Player of the Season. If the presence of Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne is inevitable, then the absence of Sadio Mane, and the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo to a lesser extent, is a challenge.
This is a board that should get people talking across the channel. The English Premier League revealed, on Friday, the names of eight players nominated for the title of best player of the season. Among them, we find some regulars like Kevin De Bruyne, winner of 2020 or Mohamed Salah, titled 2018. Some of the discoveries of the season have also made a place for themselves among the leaders like Jarrod Bowen (10 goals and 12 assists with West Ham.) or Bukayo Saka. (11 goals and 6 assists with Arsenal). The selection was completed by Son Heung-min (Totham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).
With only eight candidates, some names fell by the wayside. But Sadio Mane’s absence from that choice threatens to get people talking in England. Set as Karim Benzema’s main rival in the race for the Ballon d’Or, Mane has scored 15 goals and provided assists in the Premier League this season.
Another famous absentee is Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned last summer to the tournament that revealed him. Manchester United’s disastrous season helped a bit, CR7 nevertheless planted 18 times and provided 3 assists. The Portuguese, voted best player twice this season, has distinguished himself by deciding the fate of some matches on his own, notably against Tottenham and Norwich.
The name of Robin Dias’ successor, who got it in 2021, will be known at the end of the season. The winner is determined by a combination of audience vote (10% of the final score) with the captains’ votes and a panel of experts, composed notably of Jamie Carragher, Kenny Dalglish and Gary Neville.
