Pep Guardiola was unhappy with his team’s recognition by both FIFA and the player of year awards, claiming his players do not get the recognition they deserve for last season’s achievements.
Manchester City were the first side ever to win all three domestic trophies but when the shortlist for FIFA Best men’s player of the year was announced this week, no City players were included.
Premier League runners-up Liverpool had three names on the 10-man shortlist in Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk. Van Dijk was also last season’s PFA Player of the Year.
“It is the first time in history, four titles in one season, I would sign right now to do what we have done last season again,” said Guardiola ahead of the two sides’ Community Shield meeting at Wembley on Sunday.
“It doesn’t matter that people don’t consider us in UEFA awards and FIFA awards, not my players, I don’t think one player makes a better season that Bernardo Silva for instance – even winning with Portugal, you know what we have done.
“This club, in eight years, have won four Premier Leagues – this is quite remarkable. And never in these four seasons was one of our players nominated as one of the best in the league. Never.
“As in eight years to win the Premier League four times is quite good, and never one player not Sergio (Aguero), not David (Silva), not Vincent (Kompany), not Yaya (Toure) not the players in the past was even suggested to so…
“The year with 100 points, and a huge respect for Mohammed Salah, but Kevin de Bruyne to make 100 points was above and beyond that the normal situations so…but it is opinions so we accept that the players don’t deserve it.”
