Gary Neville explains decision to choose Son over Mané in Team of 2020

The stats don't lie

As with every Team of the Season, Team of the Year, or combined XI to ever be posted into the void, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher's Team of 2020 has attracted criticism. You're never going to please everyone when it comes to these team selections, but leaving out Sadio Mané is a sure way to rile up Liverpool fans. The team they settled on includes seven Liverpool players, but excluded Mané for Tottenham forward Heung-min Son. On Monday Night Football, Neville said: "You cannot criticise Son or Mane. There is no negative about them. They are both absolutely world-class." "Just plug the actual goals and assists in, and Son's just done better in a team that isn't as good obviously. Son just won it but that is no reflection on Mane. He could've easily been in the team." And Neville has since defended their decision after thousands questioned how Mané could be left out. The former United captain cited each player's stats for the year to explain why Son was more deserving of his place in the team. "Lots asking why Son over Mane in 2020 team of the year. See below," he tweeted. The stats show that Son scored four more goals (17) in two fewer matches throughout 2020, racking up four more assists (7) to boot. His short conversion rate was also higher, with the Korean boasting a stunning 27 per cent rate compared to Mané's 18. The 'per 90' stats are where it gets slightly more complicated. Mané puts up more shots, creates more chances, completes more dribbles and has a higher xG and xA per 90 minutes on average throughout the calendar year. https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1341339063601737729?s=20 So, in short: Mané is busier on the pitch, is more involved in making things happen, but while his underlying numbers are better, Son has been the more efficient operator in a team with less of the ball and less quality around him. Either player would have been a fair choice, they are both world class, but looking at the stats, it's easy to see why they chose Son.