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With the Premier League now in its last legs for the season, the excitement is palpable. Manchester City are 11 points clear at the top, but the relegation battle goes on.
The likes of West Ham United have impressed with their performances this season, while Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have a lot to think about how their season has panned out.
Managers and players have had to deal with a lot of constraints, but they have done well to provide some much-needed entertainment during uncertain times. The Premier League is the best league in the world, and the narratives this season have once again proven this.
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We look at the top 5 contenders for the Premier League Manager of the Season award.
#5 Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City)
Leicester City's title win in 2016 may not be replicated anytime soon, but their sensible transfer approach and Brendan Rodgers' management ability has seen them thrive in the Premier League.
They are 3rd in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea, who have played a game more. Having slipped from a similar position last season during the final stages of the competition, the Foxes will be keen to ensure that does not happen again. They are also in the finals of the FA Cup, where they will face Chelsea.
Former Liverpool and Celtic boss Rodgers has managed to get the best out of a talented squad. The likes of Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wesley Fofana have all impressed this season and have been linked with big-money moves to top clubs across Europe. Rodgers himself has been touted as a good choice for the Tottenham Hotspur job.
#4 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not had it easy since being appointed as the permanent manager of Manchester United, but the Norwegian has done really well given the circumstances.
A poor start to the season saw intense criticism being directed towards Solskjaer. Manchester United have bounced back well though, and are currently 2nd in the Premier League table. While their performances in the domestic cup competitions could have been better, there have been clear signs of improvement.
Manchester United are extremely dangerous on the counter-attack, with stars like Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw all key to their success. There is work to be done, both in the transfer window and on the training field, but it can be argued that Solskjaer has been Manchester United's best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo should leave Juventus
#3 Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United)
What an addition Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United have been to the English Premier League this season!
The enigmatic manager has always attracted attention due to his obsession with the beautiful game, and it has been evident this season. Leeds United have been beautiful to watch this season, with their attacking style of play and intense pressing game making them neutral's favorites.
They are currently 10th in the Premier League, an astonishing achievement as they are basically playing with the same squad that won the Championship last season. It has been an exciting ride to witness so far, and hopefully, there is more to come.
#2 David Moyes (West Ham United)
It is good to see David Moyes have a smile on his face and get the credit he deserves after a wonderful season with West Ham United.
The Hammers are 5th in the Premier League table, three points behind 4th-placed Chelsea. Finishing in the top four would be a genuinely amazing achievement, but playing in any European competition next season would be regarded as a success. Apart from this, it has been nice to see players like Jesse Lingard, Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice do well, and Moyes has rightly been appreciated for his role.
His stint with Manchester United may not have gone well, but there is no denying that Moyes is a smart and experienced manager and West Ham United are reaping the benefits after appointing him.
#1 Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Like Manchester United, Manchester City did not enjoy the best of starts to their season. However, they have been in frightening form for quite some time now and are arguably the best team in Europe this season.
Pep Guardiola's men are top of the league table, 11 points ahead of 2nd-placed Manchester United. They are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and will face Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup final.
They have often blown teams away this season with their incredible array of attacking talent, while the addition of centre-back Ruben Dias to their defense has proven to be crucial. If things go well, Manchester City could win all three trophies they are involved in.
Also Read: 5 best defenders in the world this season (2020/21)
