MANCHESTER was the location for this year’s PFA awards — although there was a noticeable lack of representation from the two local clubs.
It was the third time this glittering bash — previously staged in London — has been held in the north-west city.
PAMo salah has won the Player of the Year award for the third time[/caption]
PASpanish star Mariona Caldentey was overall women’s winner[/caption]
And incredibly, for the third time in succession, there was not a single Manchester United player in the men’s Premier League PFA team of the year.
It sums up what a mess it has been at Old Trafford recently. You have to go back to 2022 for the last United player to feature in the line-up and, even then, it was left to Cristiano Ronaldo to fly the flag for the club.
There were also no players in the team of the season from Manchester City, illustrating what a disappointing year it was for Pep Guardiola.
Yet if the opening day of the season is anything to go by, City’s players could be in the conversation for awards at the end of this campaign.
And despite Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal, there were still some hugely encouraging signs at Old Trafford for United supporters.
Maybe Benjamin Sesko will take English football by storm too, having arrived from RB Leipzig.
What seems certain is the PFA team of the year in 12 months’ time will not include a United keeper – unless they sign a new No 1, which looks unlikely.
Frustratingly for supporters of both City and United, it was Liverpool’s players who arrived in Manchester to bask in the glory of being at the very top of their profession.
GettyMorgan Rogers won the Young Player award[/caption]
GettyOlivia Smith poses with the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award[/caption]
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Mohamed Salah became the first player to win the award for a third time after another brilliant season helped Arne Slot win the title at the first attempt.
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool had skipper Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Salah in the team of the year.
Salah, 33, had 29 top-flight goals and a career-best 18 assists as he claimed his fourth golden boot and second Premier League title for the Reds.
Also in the top XI — as voted for by fellow Premier League players — was Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez who is now at Anfield.
One person desperate to head to Merseyside, too, is Alexander Isak — and he featured in the dream team after a terrific season on Tyneside.
For Nottingham Forest to have keeper Matz Sels and forward Chris Wood selected was a reminder of what a stunning campaign they enjoyed. Arsenal, who again finished second, saw William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice picked.
It was no surprise none of Arsenal’s forwards made the final XI, though. Maybe, Viktor Gyokeres could feature next time, yet he will have to do better than in Sunday’s 1-0 win.
GettyWilliam Saliba, Gabriel and Declan Rice all got in the Team of the Year[/caption]
Arsenal’s PFA success
At Manchester Opera House, Arsenal did have some success as Spanish star Mariona Caldentey was overall women’s winner.
With the closing date for the PFA awards now June 8 — rather than mid-March — members are able to give a much better, balanced vote.
The previous event in London was a sit-down dinner often in April, so it did not reflect the entire season.
After taking over as PFA chief exec, Maheta Molango scrapped the boozy dinner and replaced it with this 90-minute show in a theatre.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers was young player of the year, while Burnley’s James Trafford — who has returned to City — was Championship player of the year following 29 clean sheets.
Unbelievably, he conceded just 16 goals in his 45 games.
The evening also saw Gareth Southgate and Emma Hayes pick up special PFA merit awards.
PAChris Wood enjoyed a stunning season with Nottingham Forest[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
