Pride for Warne after trio of Dons named in PFA Team of the Season
“If the rest of the league thinks you’re the best in that position too, you’re doing a lot of good things”
Paul Warne spoke of his pride after three players were named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season on Tuesday night, admitting another couple could have made it into the side too.
Jack Sanders, Alex Gilbey and Callum Paterson were suited and booted for the awards evening in London as they made up three of the 11 spaces in the side following their promotion to League One last time out.
While there was no room for Player of the Season Liam Kelly, who signed for Peterborough earlier this month, the Dons head coach spoke highly of the accolade.
“To have three in there says a lot about them,” he said. “It shows they’re decent people too. My lads are brilliant footballers but brilliant people too. We don’t want to lose, and we’re not bad losers with it, and we’re not stupid winners either.
“It’s a team game, so it took everybody for those three to stand out, and I could argue we could have had another couple in it.
“It is a real honour. I’m sincerely really proud of them. A lot of players go through their careers without having a promotion, without playing at Wembley, without being the Player of the Season, without being recognised for what they did. But when you get that recognition from players from other teams, it means a bit more.
“Winning the Players’ Player of the Year is always the one the players want to win because if your team-mates think you’re the best, that has so much kudos, like you’re on top of the world.
“So if the rest of the league thinks you’re the best in that position too, you’re doing a lot of good things.”
Marvin Ekpiteta, who could also have made the team after his stellar season alongside Sanders in the defensive cordon, said the rest of the team were delighted for the trio.
“It’s so good to get three players into that team,” he added. “We’re a proper close group and we’re all delighted for them.
“They should be proud of themselves, not many players get that honour in their careers, so for them to have achieved that is amazing.
“It means a lot more coming from players you’ve played against. They should absolutely be proud.”