Premier League XI CIES team of the season revealed with shock omissions.
With the curtain coming down on the 2020-21 Premier League summer, the CIES Football Observatory have announced their team of the season with some shocking inclusions.
The backbone of the elite XI leans on Manchester City, the fugitive Premier League champions, with five stars in the line-up.
But the biggest shock is that none of those five players are Kevin De Bruyne or Phil Foden, the substantial playmakers who have been central to City reclaiming the Premier League glory.
There are three City players in the back five – goalkeeper Ederson is classified alongside Joao Cancelo at right-back and Ruben Dias in the center.
Liverpool’s fluctuating left-back Andrew Robertson takes the left side of the defense while Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof makes the back four.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, the midfield shaft includes City’s midfielder Rodri joined with Arsenal enforcer Granit Xhaka.
Switzerland midfielder Xhaka is an eye-catching addition with Arsenal having a poor campaign in Mikel Arteta’s first full season as boss. The Gunners completed eighth in the table, a point behind ardent rivals Tottenham.
Ahead of those two, Raheem Sterling, Bruno Fernandes, and Mason Mount are the attacking midfielders with Tottenham’s Golden Boot winner Harry Kane leading the group.
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Sterling’s addition ahead of De Bruyne may seem unusually tricky considering how England forward lost his spot in the City starting line-up in the latter half of the 2020-21 campaign.
Sterling started in Sunday’s 5-0 win against Everton but found himself subbed for the key Champions League knock-out games and, speaking to BT Sport in April, revealed to experiencing a ‘weird’ season despite City’s overall success.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Sterling said: “Don’t get me wrong, this season for me personally has been a very weird one.
“But nevertheless I’m still enjoying my football and giving my all to the team. If I don’t score or do something to help the team I’m not happy coming off the field.”
Another contender for the side was Phil Foden, whose rise has matched with Sterling having to settle for a decreased role at times.
Foden nicked 16 goals in 49 games across all competitions for City and his all-round play, aside from scoring goals, proved very instrumental for Guardiola’s side.
Mohamed Salah may also consider himself unfortunate not to be named in the squad that is based on Opta’s stats across the progression of the campaign. The Liverpool forward hit 22 goals, bowing out on the Golden Boot to Kane by one strike.
Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who faces City in the Champions League final this weekend, savored another super period at Stamford Bridge while Bruno Fernandes’s importance at United cannot be undervalued.
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Premier League XI CIES team of the season revealed with shock omissions.
