The Professional Footballers’ Association announced their XI from the 2022-23 campaign on Tuesday evening, with Manchester City and Arsenal players dominating the line-up. Erling Haaland led the group of five City stars, while Bukayo Saka was one of the four Arsenal players included.
Haaland scooped the PFA Player of the Season award following a ridiculous 52-goal campaign to help City win an historic Treble. Saka claimed the prize for Young Player of the Season after returning 14 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League as Arsenal finished second.
England internationals Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier were the sole entries from other sides, with Manchester United players absent completely. That is despite Rashford being voted as the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year following a bumper year which saw him score 30 goals in all competitions for United.
The fact that every Arsenal player nominated made the team was not lost on United fans, who took to social media to share their annoyance. “Rashford won the premier league potm award 3 TIMES last season only for him to be excluded from the 23/24 premier league team of the year… Unreal daylight robbery,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“No way Rashford didn’t make the PFA team of the season, this award is a joke!” another added. A third wrote: “Rashford not being included in the PFA team of the year is UNBELIEVABLE.”
Rashford was snubbed alongside David de Gea, who won the Premier League Golden Glove for keeping 16 clean sheets, but missed out to Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale. United fans also felt that Casemiro was worthy of a place in the side following an impactful first campaign in English football.
Speaking at United’s end of season awards, Rashford revealed that he had voted for two of his United team-mates. “I think I nominated two people. I don’t know if I’m allowed to do that!” he said.
“I voted for Case [Casemiro] and Bruno [Fernandes]. I feel like Case has done an amazing job since coming in and he has made us a lot more solid.”
United fans were not the only ones irked, with Liverpool supporters surprised to see Mohamed Salah miss out. The Egyptian scored 30 goals in all competitions, including 19 in the Premier League, but was not selected by his peers.
The PFA Team of the Season for 2022/23: Ramsdale; Trippier, Stones, Dias, Saliba; De Bruyne, Rodri, Odegaard; Saka, Haaland, Kane.