Bruno Fernandes will compete with Declan Rice for top individual honors. (Image: Getty)
At first glance, the race for the Premier League Player of the Year award appears to be heading in the expected direction. Arsenal are pushing towards the title and, unsurprisingly, their outstanding performances are dominating the betting markets.
Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes have played key roles in Arsenal’s title bid and are widely expected to top the polls. Don’t get me wrong. Both were exceptional.
But if the award truly recognizes England’s best player this season, there should only be one winner.
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The Manchester United captain has produced a campaign of incredible individual brilliance. Both numerically and by eye test, it surpasses what its rivals have accomplished.
Fernandes, 31, took his double against Aston Villa to his 16th league assist this season. This gave him his first century of assists since arriving at Old Trafford, breaking the club record previously held by David Beckham.
And he’s not done yet.
Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record for most assists in a Premier League season – 20 – is suddenly within reach.
Add in Fernandes’ seven league goals and he has been directly involved in 23 goals, giving United an astonishing 26 points this season. If you think about it that way, this is equivalent to half of United’s current points total.
Even more surprising is the company he currently runs.
The 26 points exactly match the total scored by United during the iconic 2008/09 season, when Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or before departing for Real Madrid.
Fernandes had a similar impact. And he still has eight games left.
Bruno Fernandes has matched the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic 2008/09 season. (Image: Getty)
Of course, the counterargument is obvious. Rice and Gabriel will end the season as champions for Arsenal. History suggests it matters. The past five POTY winners all won the title in the same season.
However, this award is not and should never be a team trophy.
Scott Parker won this honor despite West Ham being relegated in 2011. At that time, individual greatness was recognized. It deserves recognition now.
Because there is no player in the league more important to a team than Fernandes.
Without him, United could easily have found themselves in the same relegation battle that Tottenham have found themselves in during the unfortunate tenure of manager Ruben Amorim.
Instead, Fernandes almost single-handedly lifted United into the top three.
Declan Rice and Gabriel are the frontrunners for the POTY award. (Image: Getty)
Arsenal, by contrast, are not reliant on one superstar. Their strength lies in their depth. In Gabriel’s place, players such as Piero Hincapie, Cristian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafioli will challenge for the title. The same argument could be made even if a qualified Mikel Merino filled Rice’s role.
However, if Fernandes is removed from United’s squad, the drop will be dramatic. Since his arrival in January 2020, United’s league win rate without him has fallen from 50% to just 33.3%.
It tells the story better than anything that has come before.
De Bruyne has been setting the standard as the Premier League’s best creator for years. This season, Fernandes has achieved that honor.
And if POTY truly celebrates England’s best footballers, there should be no debate.
This award was given to Bruno Fernandes.
