Azmun is the best. Zenit scored a hat-trick

The poll among football players is perhaps the most objective of all. It is clear that in each team, many players votes for their own teammates, but when it comes to representatives of other clubs, the assessment of professionals is the most accurate. And the advantage with which Serdar Azmoun overtook Artyom Dzyuba, who took second place, leaves no doubt at all – this was the season of the 26-year-old Iranian Center Forward.

In 2019 and 2020 seasons, Sardar’s attacking partner Artem Dzyuba won this title. Azmoun brought Zenit their seventh poll victory in history. Before him, in addition to the already mentioned Dziuba, the honorary titles were received by Andrey Arshavin (2006), Konstantin Zyryanov (2007), Danny (2010), and Hulk (2014/15). Now Petersburgers share the lead with Spartak, Lokomotiv and CSKA have five first places each, Krasnodar has three, Dynamo and Rubin have one each.

Although, strictly judging, the Zenit striker played his usual championship at a high level, gaining decent statistics – 19 goals in 24 RPL matches. But let’s be honest: Serdar is able to look even brighter. Plus, the voting was probably influenced by the fact that at the end of the season Azmoun scored six goals in three games, including a hat-trick in the most important one at the finish – with Lokomotiv. And the last thing is always remembered, as we all know.

RPL: top 10 players of the 2020/21 Russian championship according to a poll of football players. Photo “SE”

But Azmoun’s convincing win, in my opinion, is more of the weakness of competitors. Not as good as in autumn, Vlašić and Noboa turned out to be in the spring. Dzyuba and Krykhovyak stood out, but we saw much more powerful football in their performance. Larsson gave a decent season, but the Swede also flashed with episodes, even if he decided at the expense of them a lot for Spartak to win silver.

So it turns out that there was no alternative to Azmoun – an advantage over the closest competitor of more than a hundred points has not happened for a very long time in this poll.

Well, it remains to be hoped that in the summer the RPL will not lose the bright striker. And all the rest will add so much that a more stubborn struggle will unfold for the title of the best.

Until then, congratulations, Serdar! All to the point.