Gary Neville believes Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante should pip Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the PFA Player of the Year award this season because he has been “absolutely incredible”.
Kante has become a key player for Antonio Conte’s league leaders since arriving from champions Leicester City last summer – proving just as important to Chelsea as he did to Claudio Ranieri’s side last term.
Kante is among several players tipped to be in the running for this season’s PFA Player of the Year award alongside Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic, who on Sunday scored twice to help Jose Mourinho’s side lift the EFL Cup over Southampton at Wembley.
The trophy was Ibrahimovic’s 32nd of his career – which has seen him play in five countries – and resulted in Jamie Carragher saying he believes the 35-year-old should win the player of the year award in May.
But Neville, similar to Thierry Henry, believes it should be Kante who takes the gong telling Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “I think he [Kante] should win player of the year.
“His impact upon the two teams he’s had over the last two seasons has been absolutely incredible. When you watch him in games he’s infectious. He’s all over the pitch.”
Neville then addressed Jamie Carragher and said: “I take your point about Ibrahimovic and I couldn’t disagree. But Kante should be the player of the year.”
Carragher then said: “With Chelsea, you could make an argument for David Luiz. You could make an argument for [Diego] Costa, [Eden] Hazard and, of course, Kante.
“He’s been an absolute sensation in the Premier League. But with Ibrahimovic, it’s more his age. His performances have been brilliant so it’d be very close.
“[Ibrahimovic] at United has been by far their best player and I feel there’s been four or five [at Chelsea]. Man U are sixth, Chelsea are top.
“He has delivered at 35 years of age. It’s phenomenal what he’s doing at that age.”
COMMENTS