Bacary Sagna believes that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes “has a chance” of winning the PFA Player of the Year.
Most regard Liverpool’s Mo Salah as the red-hot favourite for the prize, but speaking to Paddy Power, former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Sagna said that Fernandes is worthy of a mention:
“Bruno Fernandes has a chance to win PFA player of the season – he’s been great. He had a lot of stick when things weren’t really going well for him, but I must give him some credit now because he’s really stepped up.”
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“Maybe he needed more time to adapt, but he’s found his place. He’s the captain for a reason, because he has a big personality and is uplifting the team. We knew about his quality in Portugal, and people were expecting him to step up when he joined Manchester United – he’s finally answering those questions.”
“I’m happy for him personally, but it’s also great for the team – Manchester United is under pressure and it’s a time where they need players to step up.”
“People expect you to shine as soon as you wear the shirt, and it’s a heavy shirt to wear. He’s playing for United, not any other team, so the fans are very demanding. I’m pleased to see him delivering and showing his quality.”
Fernandes’s season in numbers
The 30-year-old actually started the campaign slowly, having failed to score a goal in his first nine league games, but he has been in superb form since then.
In all competitions, Fernandes has found the back of the net 16 times and provided 15 assists. His performances have been in stark contrast to his team, who are on course for their worst ever finish in the Premier League.
Is the United captain a genuine contender for Player of the Year?
The bookmakers have very long odds for Fernandes winning the award. You can get prices between 150/1 and 500/1, so the midfielder‘s chances are very slim at this stage.
All the money is going on Salah, who is heavily fancied, having scored 27 goals and contributed 17 assists in the Premier League alone this season. He could potentially break multiple records before the campaign comes to an end in May.
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