Last season proved challenging for Manchester City, but Erling Haaland was among the top scorers in the Premier League, demonstrating his striking prowess despite the team facing stiff competition throughout the campaign.
Martin Ødegaard, on the other hand, endured what many consider to have been one of his less consistent seasons in England. Nevertheless, the midfielder captained Arsenal to a second-place finish in the league, guiding the team to a strong overall performance despite not always being at his peak. His contributions were sufficient to secure a commendable position just behind the eventual champions.
PFA Team of the Season Snubs
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In most cases, performances of this calibre would be enough for both Haaland and Ødegaard to earn recognition in the PFA Team of the Season. However, as the awards were presented last night, it emerged that neither player received the accolade. As reported by [NRK](https://www.nrk.no/sport/fotball/), Haaland and Ødegaard were not included in the Team of the Season, which will come as a surprise to many football followers.
Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest and Alexander Isak of Newcastle were selected as the strikers, leaving Haaland overlooked despite his goalscoring feats. Meanwhile, Ødegaard missed out in favour of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool, as well as Declan Rice of Arsenal. The omissions highlight the competitive nature of the awards and reflect the subjective assessments that often shape such honours.
Motivation for the Upcoming Season
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This oversight is likely to be a disappointment for both players. However, it could also serve as motivation, pushing them to elevate their performances in the upcoming campaign. With the next PFA awards scheduled for the following summer, Haaland and Ødegaard will have the opportunity to showcase their talents and potentially secure recognition in a future edition of the Team of the Season.
While last season may not have ended with personal accolades for either star, both players remain central to their teams’ ambitions. Their drive and commitment on the pitch will be crucial if they are to achieve success individually and collectively in the new season, providing fans with exciting football and the chance to see them claim the recognition many feel they deserve.