Manchester United star Ander Herrera beat Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Valencia receive the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year at the club’s annual awards at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
As voted for by fans, Herrera sneaked in to become the unlikely winner after a solid season in midfield with Valencia picking up the Players’ Player of the Year award as a consolation while Ibrahimovic was left empty-handed despite a fine campaign.
Herrera said: ‘It is very special for me to win this award because when you see the list of the winners you realise how important it is… and because I stop the record of David [de Gea] and because the trophy stays in Spain as well.’
Valencia, meanwhile, was voted the best among his team-mates after reinventing himself as a right-back and emerging as one of the finest in his position in the Premier League.
Speaking of his win, he said: ‘It is all about working hard. I am grateful for the manager’s words. I am also very grateful for the support of the fans and on this occasion my team-mates who have backed me all the way on this.’
Henrikh Mkhitaryan surprised no one by picking up Goal of the Season for his famed ‘Scorpion Kick’ goal against Sunderland on Boxing Day.
Reacting to his win, Mkhitaryan said: ‘To be honest, I was impressed as well. I couldn’t imagine I could score such a goal. I didn’t really know what was happening. I don’t think you have to practice these kind of goals, you just have to take this quick decision. I couldn’t miss this opportunity because I got a great goal from the God.’
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