Manchester United have decided to cancel their annual Player of the Season awards ceremony because first-team players were 'too embarrassed' to hold the black-tie event, according to reports.
It has been a season to forget for United. With one game remaining of the 2021/22 campaign, the club currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, 32 points behind leaders Manchester City.
They have not only missed out on Champions League football after picking up 11 defeats in the league but they will officially record their lowest points total in Premier League history when the season ends against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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From sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November after a torrid run of form, to the appointment of interim Ralf Rangnick, who has struggled to reignite what was already a sinking ship at Old Trafford; many fans are eager for this campaign to end.
As a result of their poor performances on the pitch, The Mirror report the club's senior players 'felt awkward' about staging the end of season ceremony, which is why club bosses decided to scrap plans to stage the event.
That being said, United have decided to run an online poll with fans for them to vote for their Player of the Year, although they are still working on a plan of how to present the award.
The event is often scheduled for the final two weeks of the campaign although it hasn't taken place for the past two years because of COVID.
One of the more memorable moments in the ceremony's history involves former manager Jose Mourinho, who decided to name Scott McTominay as his 'Manager's Player of the Year' – an award he invented.
It was the Scotland international's breakthrough season at Old Trafford and he featured 20 times throughout that season under Mourinho.
As you can see in the footage below, McTominay was called up to receive the prize and posed for a picture with his boss.
Louis van Gaal, another former United manager, produced a truly iconic moment during the Player of the Year event in 2015 when he delivered an eight-minute speech for the ages.
Just take a look at the clip below, you won't regret it. "Hello, hello, pay attention to the manager!"
Topics: Manchester United, Manchester City, Premier League, Ralf Rangnick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Jack Kenmare