Big Virg voted for his biggest rival
It remains one of football's biggest mysteries that votes are cast for the PFA Player of the Year in March. There are two months of the season left to play. The award should be called... PFA Player of Most of the Year...
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Anyway, ignoring the obvious problems with the timing of the vote, it's still one of the biggest debates that runs throughout the latter stages of any footballing season. This season, it seems like a battle between Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling.
Van Dijk has transformed Liverpool's defence and played a huge role in their title challenge. Put simply, without him, they would not be contending for this season's league title.
Sterling has also played a significant part in Manchester City's title push, albeit at the opposite end of the pitch. The winger has come on leaps and bounds under Pep Guardiola, scoring 25 goals in all competitions so far this season.
There are other players who could stake a claim to the award this season, Bernardo Silva for instance, but all signs point towards a two horse race between Van Dijk and Sterling.
Would Van Dijk, therefore, vote tactically, for a player less likely to prevent him from winning the award? No chance. The Liverpool defender has revealed that he voted for Sterling in this season's awards.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final tie against Porto, Van Dijk said: “I voted for Raheem Sterling. I did what I thought and I thought he deserves it."
He added "He’s had a fantastic season. I could have voted for Bernardo Silva as well and another couple of players from City.
"But I am just being honest. I think he has improved a lot as a player. We will see if he wins it."
While the individual award would be a nice bonus, Van Dijk is much more concerned about beating Porto to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
"We still have a chance to win the title and a chance to win the Champions League," he said.
"It can become a fear when you read all the media and social media. In this situation you need to be very strong mentally.
"When the whistle goes and the games start we need to show what we have being doing throughout the season and show your quality and be confident and embrace it."
While the individual award would be a nice bonus, Van Dijk is much more concerned about beating Porto to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
"We still have a chance to win the title and a chance to win the Champions League," he said.
"It can become a fear when you read all the media and social media. In this situation you need to be very strong mentally.
"When the whistle goes and the games start we need to show what we have being doing throughout the season and show your quality and be confident and embrace it."
