Who is Man City’s Player of the Season so far?

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 Dec 2021 10:53 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has one of the most star-studded squads in world football at his disposal.

In the 2021/22 campaign, City are attempting to defend their Premier League title as well as put together another assault on the Champions League, having come close to lifting the trophy last season only to lose the final to Chelsea.

The summer saw the club break the British transfer record to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100 million.

The England international provides another option in the final third for Guardiola, who has an embarrassment of riches from which to choose for his starting XI.

MANCHESTER CITY'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

After 18 matches in the Premier League, they are in top spot, three points clear of nearest rivals Liverpool in second.

In the Champions League, they qualified top of a tough group which included Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Club Brugge.

Here are their top three performers of the campaign so far.

3. Rodri

Rodri took a little while to adapt to life in the Premier League, but under the tutelage of Guardiola he has become one of the best holding midfielders in the world.

His ability to control midfield from his position just in front of the defence is currently unmatched by anyone in the country, and his ascent into key player status is one of the main reasons why City are riding high at the top of the table.

At the time of writing, nobody has made more passes in the league this season than Rodri and, crucially, a lot more of them are being sent forward into the final third than previously.

Once accused of playing the simple ball left to right, he now fires passes into the feet of his team-mates further forward to catalyse attacks with pace.

His interceptions and ball retention have proved vital, too, as Man City play out their counter-pressing tactic.

2. Bernardo Silva

Whether it be central midfield as part of a three, behind the striker, at centre-forward, or out on the wing, Bernardo Silva seems to perform in any position and any role that is asked of him.

It seems crazy to think now, but the Portuguese star actually came close to leaving Man City in the summer, but Guardiola has always been a massive fan and his faith is paying off as Silva has been one of the standout players of this Premier League campaign.

His command over possession is fantastic and that allows him to manoeuvre into little pockets to find space and open up opposition defences.

He has turned into a goalscorer, too, netting seven times in the league so far.

Silva's brilliance could be summed up by his goal in the victory over Aston Villa, as he wonderfully side-footed a volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box. A Goal of the Season contender from a Player of the Season contender.

1. Joao Cancelo

There is a debate currently as to who the best player in the entire league has been this campaign, and along with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Joao Cancelo finds himself among the top two contenders.

Like with Rodri as mentioned above, Cancelo took time to find his feet in England and it has been a switch from right-back to left back that has seen him become one of the best full-backs in the world.

The Portuguese defender is flourishing in a modern inverted full-back role as it allows him to bomb down the flank, cut inside onto his right foot and deliver wicked crosses into the box.

He already has three goals and seven assists to his name this season, and his position has given Man City a completely new dynamic in their attacking play.

It will take a hell of an effort from someone to better his nomination for assist of the season - that pass to Raheem Sterling with the outside of his right foot from midfield.