Despite the attacking qualities of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City won the title last season because of a defender.
They reclaimed the Premier League crown from Liverpool because of the huge impact made by Ruben Dias in his debut campaign and that is why he is my Player of the Year.
Although City had high hopes for Dias when they paid Benfica £61.2million for him in October 2020, even they must have been surprised by how well he did.
He made an instant impression on his debut on a miserable Saturday evening at a rain-soaked Elland Road as he helped frustrate Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in a 1-1 draw and has carried on from there.
He started 32 of City’s last 36 Premier League games and no other outfield Blues player made more appearances than him.
The Portugal centre-half helped City keep 27 clean sheets as they won the Premier League, the League Cup - for a fourth successive season - reached the Champions League Final and the FA Cup semi-finals.
Dias is a whole-hearted defender who combines craft with graft.
He will throw himself at the ball to make blocks and clearances, but he is just as comfortable in possession.
He loves the ugly side of defending and likes nothing more than a crunching tackle or header.
Dias comes from the John Terry school of defending and has the mentality that he would throw himself on a live handgrenade if it meant preventing a goal.
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He can also be a threat in the opposition box, given the opportunity, as he demonstrated with his headed goal against West Ham in February.
Despite being just 23 when he joined City and English not being his first language, he was a talker from his first day.
That’s one of the many reasons why Pep Guardiola loves him and he talks non stop to his fellow defenders and team-mates, to organise, cajole and encourage them.
Every side needs a leader like that and he has shown himself to be a captain in waiting for the Blues.
That shows he has character as well as talent and commitment and any side in world football would be better with Dias in it.
He brought confidence back to a City side which had perhaps doubted itself because of the way Liverpool steamrollered them to claim the title in 2020.
Dias made them resolute and City were so successful last season because of their defence.
He just about edged out Mohamed Salah in my opinion and the Liverpool star has been their one shining light this year.
Salah kept scoring and doing the business when everything around him seemed to be crumbling at Anfield.
Phil Foden has also had a memorable year and he is delivering consistently on his huge potential to emerge as a star for City and England.
Reece James is another player who continues to improve with every game for Chelsea and England.
Jorginho has also had a special year and the midfielder was crowned a double European champion after lifting the Champions League with Chelsea and Euro 2020 with Italy.
