When it comes to individual awards, English soccer always has surprises in store. Manchester City trio Haaland, Phil Foden and Rodri have been nominated for the coveted PFA Player of the Year award, and anticipation is running high. After all, will the Premier League finally give them the recognition they deserve or will the trophy end up in the hands of another player? That's where the danger lies.
Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).
First, let's remember what these guys did. Haaland, the Norwegian giant, hasn't stopped breaking records since he set foot on English soil. With 27 league goals last season, he proved that his phenomenal debut performance was no fluke. The striker has simply turned the impossible into a routine, with a nose for goal that would make any goalkeeper lose sleep. But the most impressive thing? He is the fastest in Premier League history to score 50 goals. That's not just an achievement, it's a statement of power.
Phil Foden, City's golden boy, had the best season of his career. With every game, it seemed that he was determined to show that he wasn't just a promise, but the real thing. His 27 goals and 12 assists in 53 appearances speak for themselves. But of course, the brilliance doesn't stop there. He took home the FWA Player of the Year award, was voted Premier League Player of the Season and even won the Etihad Player of the Season award. If that's not dominance, I don't know what is.
And Rodri? Well, the Spaniard has established himself as one of the pillars of Pep Guardiola's team. There's no denying his importance in the City set-up. With 13 assists and 9 goals, he not only helped the club lift another Premier League trophy, but was also a key player in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph. Rodri is the kind of player who does the dirty work, but with a class that few possess. And these players often go unnoticed. But should he?
Now here's the dilemma: will any of them take the trophy? Haaland, Foden and Rodri are undoubtedly deserving, but the competition is heavy. There's Martin Odegaard, who had a top season at Arsenal. Cole Palmer, now at Chelsea, and Ollie Watkins, from Aston Villa, also deserved their nominations. And we know that when it comes to awards, soccer politics often come into play.
The problem is that, historically, the PFA has a tendency to opt for the obvious or for sentimentality. Remember the case of Kevin De Bruyne? Even though he dominated the midfield for years, he was often passed over for individual awards by players with a more "appealing" narrative. And with this trend, it's hard not to worry about the future of City's nominations.
Another point we can't ignore is the view many people have of Manchester City. With success comes envy, and City, being a winning machine, inevitably attracts critics who prefer to see other clubs excel. Could this influence voters? Who knows.
But let's face it, what Haaland, Foden and Rodri did last season is simply undeniable. To ignore their achievements would be an injustice. If the PFA Player of the Year award is really about merit and impact on the game, then City's trio should be at the top of any voter's list. Haaland with his records, Foden with his magic and Rodri with his consistency. Any one of them deserves to lift the trophy.