The stage is set for a classic encounter
This weekend’s fixtures all seem extremely underwhelming apart from the Super Sunday late kick-off between Chelsea and Manchester City, which is set to be a thrilling contest.
It would take an incredible collapse for City not to win the league this season, but they are looking to take Chelsea’s crown as soon as possible so they can focus on the Champions League, while reigning champions Chelsea are fighting to get back into the top four. Both teams will go into this game looking for three points which should make for an open game and lots of goals.
You know the drill by now, this means it’s time for another combined XI between the two squads and I’m sorry to say, it’s not looking great for Chelsea.
Goalkeeper: Ederson
Both teams possess world class goalkeepers, but this season Ederson has shown the range of his talents, from sweeping up behind his defence, distributing the ball long and short as well as the crucial task of shot stopping. He starts in goal.
Right-back: Kyle Walker
The England international improved hugely under Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham and has continued that progression under Pep Guardiola. His overlapping runs and fizzed crosses make him a dangerous weapon going forward as well as a reliable defender, although he is prone to the occasional brain fart. Nevertheless, he makes it in to this back four.
Right centre-back: Cesar Azpilicueta
He began as a right-back, moved to the left under José Mourinho and then into a back three under Antonio Conte, but in this team he is playing in central defence in a back four. He isn’t the tallest, but he reads the game extremely well and is arguably the league’s best proper defender. He’s not the tallest, but the other side wouldn’t get the ball if this team were to actually play, so we won’t worry about that.
Left-centre back: Nicolas Otamendi
During his first couple of years in England, Otamendi developed a reputation for rash, mistimed tackles and was ridiculed for his apparent inability to defend. But this season, he has shown vast improvements, thanks to Guardiola ironing out his flaws and making use of his ball-playing ability. He’s also got a great leap, which is important considering he stands at 5′ 10″.
Left-back: Marcos Alonso
Once again we must qualify this selection by explaining that Benjamin Mendy’s long-term injury makes him ineligible. Marcos Alonso has built on his form from last season with consistently excellent performances, popping up with key goals and chipping in with the odd free kick. Apologies to Fabian Delph.
Holding midfield: Fernandinho
But N’Golo Ka- no, listen. Kanté is an excellent player at what he does. He buzzes around, putting out fires and breaking through the lines with little bursts of acceleration, but that is not what this team requires from its holding midfielder. This team would need a more disciplined player to sit and distribute the ball to the attacking players, and Fernandinho has shown he can do that. His transformation from box-to-box midfielder to a ‘number 6’, as they say, has been remarkable.
Right-central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne
No shocks here. The Belgian will be competing with Mo Salah and Harry Kane for player of the season come May, and you could not complain if he won it. He epitomises Pep’s City team; graceful, energetic, creative and ruthless.
Left-central midfield: David Silva
De Bruyne’s partner in crime in City’s midfield trio, Silva is a magician with the ball at his feet and more tenacious than many realise. Both players were considered number 10s before Pep arrived and converted them both into number 8s in order to squeeze the most out of them. That transformation, late on in Silva’s career, is testament to his intelligence, skill and fitness.
Right-wing: Leroy Sané
This young superstar’s potential is limitless. With his elegant dribbling and electrifying pace, it’s easy to see why Guardiola is so infatuated with the winger. He normally plays on the left for City, but must swap wings to make way for….
Left-wing: Eden Hazard
One of the first names on this hypothetical team sheet, Hazard terrifies defenders when he cuts in from the left. His close control and silky dribbling is a joy to watch and he poses a huge goal threat on top of that.
Striker: Sergio Agüero
One of City’s all time greats, consistently scoring more than 20 league goals a season, there is no doubting Agüero’s quality. Despite a series of injuries, he has retained the strength and speed that makes him so difficult to deal with for defences and obviously, he is lethal in front of goal.
City dominate this combined XI, but whether they will be able to dominate Chelsea on Sunday afternoon remains to be seen. Conte has the tools to dismantle City on the counter-attack. Guardiola will be hoping for a repeat of the reverse fixture this season, while Conte will be hoping for a repeat of this fixture last season, when Chelsea sucker-punched City on the break in a 3-1 victory at the Etihad.
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