[dropcap]M[/dropcap]anchester City star, Kevin de Bruyne believes his fellow footballers face an impossible choice between him and Mohamed Salah for the PFA Player of the Year award.
De Bruyne thinks he merits the accolade after surprising himself with his level of performance this season but admitted the Liverpool winger has been “incredible”.
Salah is the Premier League’s top scorer with 29 but De Bruyne has the most assists, with 15, and he feels their differences make it hard to judge who has been better.
“You cannot compare – it is impossible,” said De Bruyne. “Salah has a remarkable goalscoring run, and he plays very well like an inside forward type of role. This season he has been incredible. He has been outstanding, his record speaks for itself.
De Bruyne has been the outstanding individual in a City team who could clinch the Premier League title at its earliest ever date on Saturday and are on course to beat Chelsea’s divisional records of 95 points and 103 goals.
He scored the winner when City beat defending champions Chelsea in September and has added goals against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
“If I get it, it would be nice for the team and for me,” De Bruyne added. “In one way, I believe I deserve it, because I have been very consistent in my form. I am very happy with myself, I am very pleased with how I have played, I didn’t expect to be this good this season, to be honest.”
Salah, who has struck 37 times in all competitions, is on course to beat the Premier League record of 34 goals in a one season.
The Egyptian is the top scorer in any of Europe’s five major leagues and has also proved prolific in the Champions League.
Now Europe offers a chance to compare the pair again with City visiting Liverpool on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
“It is all or nothing,” added De Bruyne, who added that he is yet to cast his ballot in the annual voting, though players are barred from choosing themselves of team-mates.
De Bruyne may suffer if the City vote is split, with team-mates such as David Silva, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling potentially getting the backing of some of their peers, but believes it will come down to which characteristics his fellow professionals value most.
“I think it depends on what people are looking for in a player,” he said.
QUESTION:
Who deserves to win the PFA Player of the year award?
