Micah Richards thinks Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Antonio Rudiger are genuine contenders for Premier League Player of the Year, but he predicts Liverpool will dominate the awards.
Pundit Richards has singled out two Blues stars as their outstanding individuals so far from the 2021/22 season
Mount, 23, has continued to improve his game in terms of goal contributions. The attacking midfielder is now up to 10 goals and nine assists already this season in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old centre-back Rudiger is an absolute colossus in defence for Thomas Tuchel’s side. He’s a huge fan favourite with his aggression, pace and strength on the left of Chelsea’s back three.
Despite getting a mention, Richards feels Liverpool attackers Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are frontrunners for individual prizes this season.
“Liverpool are blessed to have them both and it wouldn’t surprise me if he (Mane) and Salah dominate the vote for the PFA and FWA awards. Who else is going to challenge them?” Richards wrote.
“Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and the outstanding Joao Cancelo would be Manchester City’s candidates; Mason Mount and Antonio Rudiger have had good seasons for Chelsea but I don’t believe that any of them can match the achievements of Salah and Mane.”
Thiago Silva another key Chelsea member
For certain, Silva is another that deserves a mention when discussing Chelsea’s best individual performers this season.
The 37-year-old is somehow still pocketing Premier League attackers on a weekly basis with his quality in the heart of the side’s back three.
He’s showing no signs really of slowing down, so it’s great to see him with one more year on his contract beyond the summer.
His performances mean his dream of playing at the World Cup at the end of 2022 still looks firmly alive.
Mateo Kovacic and Reece James are two more players that need a shoutout for how they’ve performed at Stamford Bridge this campaign.
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