Manchester United vs Chelsea Combined XI

By Arjun_Handa -
Image result for azpilicueta and de gea
Image from the Daily Mail
Well, after a bitter defeat to Manchester City, the race for Top Four is now requiring Manchester United to win all three of their remaining games and hope for both Chelsea and Arsenal to drop points along the way. In doing so, they must beat Chelsea at Old Trafford and get the happiness and passion flowing through the club, as it did when Ole first joined. Both teams have struggled this season and have truly not accomplished what they were expected to, but both teams have quality that can shine brightly and both teams will need it on Sunday. Here's the combined XI:

GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA
Back the man who has saved us time and time again. Back the vice-captain of the squad who everyone can see is screaming at his players to wake up every time a mistake happens. His form may have dipped this season but no doubt that he is the best in the world and will hopefully get out of this poor run he is in.

RIGHT BACK: CESAR AZPILICUETA
No shock here. Young was better against Man City but still not great. Azpilicueta is a versatile, defensively capable leader - someone most teams including United are begging for. Shame that United couldn't have snagged him in the 2017 summer.

CENTRE BACKS: VICTOR LINDELOF AND DAVID LUIZ
Luiz has his moments of brilliance and his moments of utter stupidity and dirty-play but is an excellent defender and ball-player. Lindelof has been one of the beacons of light in this dark, dark season and truly plays for the badge every game.

LEFT BACK: LUKE SHAW
While United have right back problems, Chelsea have left back problems. Marcos Alonso is not suitable to play left back and Emerson is decent but not a Chelsea starting player. Shaw may have been at fault for Bernardo Silva's goal but worked so very hard during the game, you could see his legs were gone. He is another beacon this season and no doubt will start at left back come the beginning of next season.

MIDFIELD THREE: N'GOLO KANTE, PAUL POGBA AND JUAN MATA
Kante is the best defensive midfielder probably in the world. Definitely the best in the league. The PFA announced Pogba in the squad and was met by a lot of surprise until you remember his stats for United, he has thirteen league goals and nine assists - more than any other United player and is having his most prolific season ever. Says a lot about a 'flop who is worse than Naby Keita.' The last midfielder was a tough choice, I think Mata should be in the team as he is the only real midfielder other than Ross Barkley who can play a precise pass to an attacker and set them up for a goal. He hasn't had the time this season but when he plays he works hard and presses, despite his lack of pace and tries to create chances. Barkley was the other choice and it was close but I prefer Juan Mata and would be unhappy to see him leave United.

WINGERS: EDEN HAZARD AND ANTHONY MARTIAL
Hazard is a world class player no matter what anyone says. He will definitely go to Real Madrid if Chelsea don't get Champion's League football as he will be a true star at Los Blancos and could win the title there for them. He has more goals and assists than anyone else this season in the league and is Chelsea's danger man on Sunday. United don't really have a right winger and haven't had one since Nani left in 2015. I've been a bit frustrated, as many fans have, with Martial as he cuts in too often and doesn't take on players enough so maybe a spell on the right wing until the season ends would do him some good - he would have to take on players to get into the box, as a result he would win more penalties for his team and it would make him a more dangerous player overall.

STRIKER: ROMELU LUKAKU
Higuain has been so poor since coming to Chelsea and Giroud has never got a good run of league form so its up to the United strikers. Toss up between Rashford and Lukaku and while Rashford impressed against Manchester City, he looked injured by Ederson and then rarely had an effect. Sometimes he needs to say 'I am injured' and just take the hit. Lukaku has been slated by fans throughout this season but I think we need to play the Belgian on Sunday. With Rudiger injured, Chelsea have lost a lot of physicality and Christensen is very quick but not too strong. Lukaku could win more aerial duels and bring players into the game but he has to step up or get shipped off to Serie A.

Image from Buildlineup.com


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