Kevin De Bruyne says player of the year award rival Mohamed Salah is having 'unbelievable' season

Sport360 staff 21:00 03/04/2018
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  • Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne believes his rival for player of the year award, Mohamed Salah, is having an unbelievable season – although the Belgian feels he would be a deserving winner.

    Liverpool‘s Egypt international has 37 goals this term and is leading the race for the Premier League‘s Golden Boot with 29 to emerge as a credible rival to City’s Belgium playmaker for the award.

    “To score that many goals in a season is unbelievable,” said De Bruyne ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield.

    “No-one expected it but he hit the ground running and Liverpool are an attacking force with the way the front three work together but the way he did is unbelievable.”

    De Bruyne has contributed a ridiculous 15 assists and been consistent in City’s march to the title.

    While the Belgian is the favourite to be named player of the year, Salah has been making an extremely good case for himself.

    De Bruyne told the Daily Mail: “Well, if I get it, it would be nice, I think, for the team and for me.

    Kevin De Bruyne is glad he doesn't have to make the decision between himself and Mo Salah.

    Kevin De Bruyne is glad he doesn’t have to make the decision between himself and Mo Salah.

    “In one way I believe I deserve it, because I have been very consistent in my form. I am very happy with myself, I am very pleased with how I have played and I didn’t expect to be this good this season to be honest.

    “There is almost no game where my standard has dropped, so I have been very constant. To maintain the level in the amount of games I have played, the amount of minutes, I am very pleased with that.

    Asked specifically about Salah, De Bruyne added: “You cannot compare, it is impossible. Everybody has his own opinion. It depends on what people are looking for in a player.

    “Salah has been on a remarkable goalscoring run and he plays very well in an inside forward type of role. This season he has been incredible, so to compare us, I don’t know.

    “With the statistics, how are we going to compare ourselves? It’s totally different.

    “I played at the weekend like a defensive midfielder, so how you can compare me to an inside forward? I have no idea.

    “But Salah has been outstanding, his record speaks for itself. It’s just the way it goes. Luckily I don’t have to make the decision.”

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