Rodri’s snub for the Premier League Player of the Season award defies logic. Manchester City’s midfield general was left off the 8-man shortlist for the award when it was announced today. It defies belief that one of the best midfielders in world football and the Premier League has been left out of the shortlist for the award.
The shortlist for the Premier League Player of the Season was announced earlier today. Manchester City had two players nominated for the award. Phil Foden and Erling Haaland were the two City players nominated for the award. Foden has had an outstanding season and has already landed the FWA Men’s Footballer of the Year award. Erling Haaland is the top scorer in the Premier League and has scored 25 goals so far this campaign. The full list of nominees can be seen below.
Rodri’s snub for the award appears to devalue the award.
But what is striking about the list of nominees is the absence of Rodri. City’s midfield general has again had an outstanding individual season. He is the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s side, and without him, Manchester City is a different team. Each of City’s three losses in the Premier League this season came when Rodri was suspended. That speaks volumes of the influence and brilliance of City’s midfield general. Rodri makes the world champions tick and is the heartbeat of the world champions. There can be no doubt of that fact.
Even the statistics back Rodri’s case for the Premier League Player of the Season award. In terms of goals and assists, Rodri has scored 7 goals and added 9 assists this season. He also has the most accurate passes in the Premier League and the most final third entries by any player. His is also the second highest-rated player by Who Scored in the Premier League this season. The statistics also tell the story of just how good Rodri has been this season. But he was still left off the list of nominees for the Premier League Player of the Season.
Rodri’s snub for the Premier League Player of the Season defies logic. That is not to disparage the eight players who have been nominated for the award. They have had great individual seasons in their own right. But for sheer influence and consistency of performance, Rodri had to be nominated for the award. His outstanding season warranted that, at the very least.