Thierry Henry pulls the curtain down on the Premier League with his End of the Season awards
IT'S been a thrilling Premier League campaign, even though front-runners Chelsea have had it mostly their own way on the way to the title.
But there was a lot going in the tussle for Champions League places behind them.
Here, Thierry Henry’s hands out his End of Season Awards...
Manager and Team of the Season
Well, it can only be Antonio Conte and Chelsea, of course. For a new manager to come in and adapt his tactics and his team’s way of thinking with such spectacular results was astonishing.
He taught players such as Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses new positions and they grasped it quickly.
The team then went on that spectacular, title-defining run and they never looked back.
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Player of the Season
I made it clear earlier in the season that Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante would be a worthy winner and I’m delighted that someone who plays in the unglamorous position he does picked up the PFA awards.
I thought Eden Hazard would edge it and he gets my nod - but there is little to choose between the two.
I would just veer towards the little magician that is Eden because he came up with some big goals in big games. Big goals in big games win titles – and he delivered.
Game of the Season
My match of the season would be Chelsea versus Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final. It was entertaining for one simple reason: two teams going all-out for victory.
Not one team trying to win and the other trying not to lose but two sides with a raw desire to win. It resulted in six goals and a great game of football.
Goal of the Season
I would have to go for Emre Can and his brilliant overhead kick against Watford. I usually prefer a team effort personally – but that was some goal. It was a proper bicycle kick.
He has to turn, the ball was behind him, he doesn’t have two feet planted and is waiting. Instead he is on the move when the ball comes in and has to adjust.
And wow! What a result.
Surprise of the Season
Victor Moses. The Chelsea midfielder has been in the league a long time and there had been a question mark hanging over him about whether he could cut it at a top club.
He had struggled to get a game and was constantly out on loan. But with the clarity of Conte’s plan and the Italian’s guidance he has flourished and looks like he has made that wing-back position his own.
No one saw that coming at the start of the season.
Unsung hero of the Season
There has been a lot of talk about the usual suspects at Tottenham all season: Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose etc – but Victor Wanyama barely got a mention until the last few weeks.
But he has been superb all campaign. He has hardly missed a match and is vital to what they are all about.
His reading of the game, his strength, his drive and his power are all superb. And he is adding a few goals now. He’s just an amazing player who has had an amazing season.
Signing of the Season
Sadio Mane at Liverpool: I’m sad for him that he didn’t finish the season due to his knee injury but before that his impact at Liverpool was huge.
It would be a close call with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at United but I’d just go for Sadio.
His speed, direct running, goals and assists gave Liverpool a real threat going forward.
Young player of the Season
I’m going for Manchester City’s Leroy Sane. For a while he looked like he would struggle to settle here but has been superb in the second half of the season in particular.
I went for Dele Alli when asked by Sky but then I had to choose one of the six candidates on the PFA shortlist. I love Alli but he has been around the league for a while.
Sane is new to it all and has made a great impact with his direct running with the ball, the pressure he puts on the opposition, the way he runs in behind the defence.
He is a nightmare if you are right-back and you look up and he’s haring towards you.
Disappointment of the Season
This would have to be whichever club out of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal fails to qualify for the Champions League.
Look, it’s not easy - everyone at the top buys great players, they all have great coaches.
But it’s been a mini-league at the top and whichever side finishes bottom of it would have to be disappointed.
I would not put Manchester United in that bracket. A European trophy gets them into the Champions League and they would then have won two trophies (or three as Jose Mourinho counts the Community Shield).
People say that it does not matter if you are outside the Champions League for a season.
Believe me, it matters.
Financially it might not be as big a deal as it used to be but it still matters.
Forget about the money now and again. It is vital to these clubs. Big players want to play in the Champions League. That is a fact. Fans want to watch it – not the Europa League.
Try telling a fan to make do with the Europa when they are used to the Champions League. It is massively important. That’s why it will be a disappointment for whoever misses out.
One to watch for next season
Gabriel Jesus. I saw a lot of the little striker when he was playing for Palmeiras and Brazil and I’m excited to see what he can do in the Premier League.
He started well for Manchester City before he got his injury. That suggests there is more to come. He is definitely the one to watch.