TV PERSONALITY Piers Morgan is not happy with Bruno Fernandes winning the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year award.
The 31-year-old was named the winner on Friday following a season that has yielded 19 assists and eight goals in a rejuvenated Manchester United side that will likely finish third in Premier League.
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Piers Morgan strongly believes that Declan Rice should have won the award Credit: Getty
Fernandes (left) and Rice (right) have been midfield rivals for years now Credit: Splash
The all-time Premier League assist record of 20 is within Fernandes’ sights with just three games remaining. Both Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry reached that milestone, but the latter did not need set-pieces.
However, after Telegraph journalist Sam Dean made the case for Declan Rice, Morgan couldn’t help but echo his thoughts.
Dean said: “With respect to my colleagues in the football writing industry, I am stunned that Bruno Fernandes has been named FWA Footballer of the Year instead of Declan Rice.
“Rice has literally won more matches this season (35) than Fernandes has even played (34).”
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Morgan replied: “Exactly. It’s a farce.”
It’s worth noting that Morgan is a well-documented Arsenal fan.
England international Rice has been the heartbeat of Arsenal’s team as the Gunners sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League with just three games left.
They have also just reached the Champions League final where they will face the reigning champions, PSG.
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Rice has four goals and five assists this season, but of course, he is not deployed in a creative role like Fernandes.
But, Rice does rank well in far less sexy categories that underpin his importance to Arsenal.
He ranks fourth in pass completion in the league and he is second for successful passes under high intensity pressure.
He has also ran the seventh most in England’s top flight this season.
Perhaps it’s not outrageous to think that Fernandes has had the more influential campaign in relation to his impact on his own team.
But many would argue, typically speaking, the winner of the award hails from the club that wins the league that season.
