Four players set to miss out on Premier League winners’ medals despite playing for Man City this season
Despite being active for Manchester City this season, four players will not be attending the Premier League champions’ medal ceremony.
With a victory over West Ham on the last day of the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium, City became the first English team to win the title four times in a row.
After calming the anxieties of City supporters with a goal in the second minute, England’s Phil Foden added a second just before halftime.
With a stunning bicycle kick, Mohammed Kudus drew one back, but Rodri’s drive in the second half put an end to the game.
As a result, City will get its Premier League champions’ medals. The league will distribute 40 medals to the players, coaching staff, and manager Pep Guardiola.
Every player with five or more Premier League appearances will earn one, according to the current regulation.
Since 21 City players have been in the Premier League so far this season, the coaches and other players have the option to split the 19 medals that City has won.
Teams may petition the Premier League for additional medals, but the league will only comply if 39 players or more have played in five or more games.
Currently, though, despite contributing in a (small) way to City’s triumph this season, four players are not going to get medals – maybe due to a technicality.
Two of those four players left on permanent contracts, meaning that none of them are still with the team.
Cole Palmer, a standout player for Chelsea who led the Blues with 22 goals and 10 assists in the league this year, did, in fact, play in one match for City this year, coming on as a substitute for ten minutes in the team’s 3-0 victory over Burnley on opening day.
Aymeric Laporte, a center-back, made his final appearance in the match before leaving the team to play for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League later that month.
James McAtee, on loan from Sheffield United, and Kalvin Phillips, on loan from West Ham, both played four games each but are not formally eligible for a medal.
As previously said, City has the option and may still decide to offer medals to those four players, but considering their extensive backroom staff, that may mean sacrificing another player from the team.
