- Several Man City stars are nominated for POTY
- Geoff Shreeves doesn’t think they should win
- He explained why on CBS Sports
Long-time pundit and journalist Geoff Shreeves has explained why he feels Manchester City players should not win the Premier League Player of the Year Award, even if they win the title.
With weeks remaining in the Premier League campaign, the nominations are in for this season’s Player of the Year.
Two City players are among those tipped to be in contention. Both Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva have been excellent for the Carabao Cup winners once again.
However, Shreeves argues that neither player should win the award, even if they help City to win the Premier League title ahead of Arsenal.
Geoff Shreeves says Manchester City stars shouldn’t win POTY
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, Shreeves suggested that City players didn’t deserve recognition as they’ve won things previously.
He argues that Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes would instead be a better choice if Pep Guardiola’s side won the league.
Shreeves said: “I put it to you. If City win the title, Bruno [Fernandes] deserves it. If Arsenal win it, Declan Rice deserves it.”
"If Manchester City win the title, Bruno Fernandes deserves it. If Arsenal win it, Declan Rice deserves it."@GeoffShreeves, @S_Fusaro and @tombogert have their say on who should win Player of the Year 🏆 pic.twitter.com/8QZdkPzvcw
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 28, 2026
“Because City are a team that have done it so many times recently. Erling Haaland has done it before. If Arsenal somehow stagger over the line, and Declan Rice has been their best player all season, then in my opinion, he should be player of the year.
“And this is not anti-City, by any stretch of the imagination. It’s always a difficult argument to give it to a player who hasn’t won anything [Fernandes]. But he has had an incredible season, so I’d split it that way.”
Haaland has ‘done it before’ argues Shreeves
In response, CBS presenter Stefano Fursaro argued Haaland’s case to receive the POTY award after another super season.
He said: “But if City win [the title] again, then surely Haaland has to be in with a shout over Bruno? What’s he on, 24 goals now in the Premier League with seven assists?”
However, Shreeves explained: “Erling Haaland has done it before. City have done it before. Nobody has broken the assists record. He’s [Fernandes] set a new record.
“And equally, Arsenal, having not won the title for 20 years, if Declan Rice drives them over the line, he’s deserving of it.”
Both Haaland and Bernardo Silva would be deserving winners
While Shreeves may feel that other players deserve recognition for incredible seasons, the POTY award should not be based on team performances, or past success.
It is a standalone award, based solely on the 2025/26 season, and should be treated as such. Haaland and Silva are both more than deserving of the award – based purely on their displays for City this campaign.
If previous records are taken into account, the award loses any credibility. It becomes more of a ‘most improved’ trophy than a true representation of the best player in the league each season.
