The debate over the Premier League Player of the Season continues, with pundits Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, and Patrick Vieira all selecting different candidates. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been widely tipped to win the award and is the odds-on favorite for the PFA Player of the Year. The Portuguese midfielder has had an outstanding campaign, equaling the record for most assists in a Premier League season with 20, matching Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry. This achievement has placed him in contention for the top honor.
Neville Backs Fernandes, But Others Disagree
Gary Neville has publicly supported Fernandes for the prize, but both Vieira and Carragher have voiced their disagreement. Carragher, a Liverpool legend, argued that Manchester United has not been involved in enough high-stakes matches this season for Fernandes to be considered ahead of players competing for titles.
“No, I don’t quite understand it and I’m a huge fan of Bruno,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “But when I’m deciding on Player of the Year and you’re picking a player whose games this season have not had any real jeopardy… For me, I’d go with Declan Rice. You think of the Champions League semi-finals, I think he was outstanding against Atletico Madrid and he’s been a driving force for Arsenal. The reason he dropped off a bit around the Man City games and the cup final was probably fatigue because they were constantly playing midweek games due to being in all elite competitions.
“With Manchester United, they went out in the first round of both cup competitions. They didn’t have Europe, which is nothing to do with Bruno, but I can’t think of many big games this season that Bruno’s been involved in where you think the line is on the line and he has to produce. He’s had a fantastic season, but no, I would go with Declan Rice because of that.”
Vieira Chooses Arsenal’s David Raya
Patrick Vieira also selected an Arsenal star, rejecting Neville’s choice of Fernandes. “Not at all. No,” Vieira said when asked if he agreed. “I will go with, of course, one of the Arsenal players. David Raya for me has to be the Player of the Season. I think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season. He was really impressive, making some important saves and winning points for Arsenal. For me, I don’t see any other players who were outstanding. We always go for forward or creative players. Why not a defender and why not a goalkeeper? I think David, for me, will have my vote.”
With the season drawing to a close, the race for Player of the Year remains open, as Fernandes, Rice, and Raya all present strong cases.
