Martin Keown says Kevin De Bruyne deserved it over Mohamed Salah, but thinks the Manchester City star will have the last laugh over the Liverpool man anyway.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown aimed a sly dig at Liverpool star Mohamed Salah after his PFA Player of the Year win on Sunday night.
The Egypt international beat Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to the award after an incredible debut season in which he has netted 31 goals in the Premier League – only the fourth player to do so – and looks likely to win the Golden Boot.
However, Keown feels De Bruyne deserves more credit for his role in City’s comfortable stroll to the title this term, with the Belgian at the heart of much of their best football and creative play.
“If I was still playing he would have had my vote,” Keown wrote in his column in the Daily Mail.
“Only a few weeks ago we were all hailing Manchester City as one of the greatest sides to win the Premier League. If that is the case, it must follow that the beating heart of that team should win the top individual accolades.
“City would not be dominating in the Premier League without De Bruyne’s vision and desire to take the game to the opposition. Every game he serves up a dazzling array of balls for strikers to finish.”
To rub salt into the wound, the former Gunners defender added that, despite missing out on the PFA prize, De Bruyne will probably be the happier of the two players anyway as he’s set to finish the season with a Premier League winners’ medal.
“As great an honour as this is, I am sure De Bruyne would rather have a Premier League medal around his neck,” he said.
While Keown makes a valid point about goalscorers getting more credit when it comes to handing out individual accolades, this seems a harsh assessment of a record-breaking season for Salah, who has shone in a team without the same high calibre of player around him that De Bruyne has benefited from week in, week out.
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