adminWriters’ Association Footballer of the Year earlier this week. Bale also fought off Van Persie to land the PFA Player of the Year award.
The Dutchman’s six goals in April helped United to secure their 20th league title with four games to spare.
Van Persie, 29, has hit 25 league goals since moving from Arsenal for £24m last August.
His hat-trick in the 3-0 win against Aston Villa on April 22 saw United clinch the title ahead of Manchester City, who tried to sign Van Persie last summer.
Earlier this season, City boss Roberto Mancini said his failure to land Van Persie was the difference between the two teams in the title race.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “I remember Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger saying to me ‘he’s better than you think’ when we concluded the deal. He was right.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has been named Premier League manager of the month for April.
The Spaniard (53) is the first Chelsea boss to collect the monthly award since Carlo Ancelotti in April 2011.
Unbeaten in the Premier League in April with three wins from four, Benitez has guided the Blues to third place. Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Chelsea at Old Trafford, Manchester United manager Ferguson has conceded Benitez has done a good job “in the last few weeks”.
The pair have had a fraught relationship since Benitez’s time at Liverpool, with the Spaniard accusing Ferguson of ignoring a handshake before March’s FA Cup quarter-final.
“He is very concerned about his CV. He refers to it quite a lot,” said Ferguson, whose United side have already been crowned champions.
“But you can’t dispute the fact he has done a good job in the last few weeks. The key to it is that the fans have settled down a little bit. They have left him alone. He has got on with managing his job.
“It can’t be easy, listening to pressure from the fans all the time.
“They have eased up. It has allowed him to relax and they have produced some good results.” Chelsea are hoping to close in on a place in next season’s Champions League, and Benitez has also guided them to the Europa League final. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter