Both having been away in North America on International Champions Cup duty, Chelsea and Manchester United have been involved in some of the more glamorous pre-season friendlies this summer.
With the Blues downing Paris Saint-Germain on penalties and the Red Devils achieving a notable victory in prevailing 3-1 against Champions League holders Barcelona, the tour games have made for good viewing on our tavern projector that has been running all hours of the night and morning.
For many neutrals by the bar, they still can’t see past Chelsea this term with the ever competitive Jose Mourinho the best manager in the Premier League but listen to others and they’ll claim Manchester United will push them far harder.
The Red Devils have been trying their best Manchester City impression this summer after spending big to land Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin alongside free agent Sergio Romero who joined earlier today.
While Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has recently criticised their big spending ways, others argue how else are United going to topple the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City so soon?
All of this talking has led to our punters by the bar devising a best combined eleven made up of current stars of both Manchester United and Chelsea. What do you think?
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Click on the image below to reveal what we believe to be the best combined Manchester United and Chelsea starting XI.
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David De Gea
Will he stay or will he go?
We could’ve easily selected Thibaut Courtois for the goalkeeping role in this eleven but we’ve gone with De Gea because when Real Madrid come looking at you, you must’ve performed miracles to earn their interest.
Miracles are exactly what De Gea worked for United last term with many claiming they would’ve finished outside the top four had it not been for the performances of their Spanish stopper.
Earning Sir Matt Busby’s Player of the Year crown for two seasons now, United fans will hope new boy Sergio Romero is a replacement for Victor Valdes and not their other Spanish goalkeeper.
Branislav Ivanovic
Chelsea’s Mr dependable, Branislav Ivanovic hardly puts a fut wrong over the course of a season does he?
The Serbian international is now one of the more experienced heads at Stamford Bridge and is a calming influence on the field with his assurance on the ball, not to mention his raiding runs up the right flank.
A spiky customer when pushed too far, Ivanovic must be a dream to manage however with the player often leaving all of his energy out on the field with some gutsy performances.
Marcos Rojo
United fans hope to see far more of Marcos Rojo this season after injury troubles last bur from what they did see, they reckon the Argentine is a special player.
Playing at left back for Argentina, expect Rojo to get more opportunities at centre back if United fail to land Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi this summer and with Luke Shaw expected to get better at left back, the pair could both find themselves in United’s strongest eleven.
Rojo is a fiery customer who isn’t scared of a challenge and Red Devils fans will look forward to him getting stuck in this season.
John Terry
What more can be said about John Terry that hasn’t been said already?
He enjoyed the season of his life last term, hardly missing a kick as Chelsea went on to secure another Premier League title.
Simply not feeling the strain of getting older, it appears Terry is getting better if anything and while Jose Mourinho looks at Everton’s John Stones to succeed him in the future, it doesn’t look as if Terry has retirement on his mind any time soon.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Like Ivanovic on the other side of Chelsea’s back four, Cesar Azpilicueta has equally grown into another dependable member of Jose Mourinho’s first team.
The Spanish international was a favourite of Rafael Benitez during his short infamous spell at Stamford Bridge but in fairness to Mourinho who changed it around ever since, Azpilicueta has remained in his plans.
Equally adept at getting forward and defending to the best of abilities, Azpilicueta will be the first choice at left back once again this season; it just remains to be seen who Chelsea will purchase to be his understudy with Filipe Luis returning to Atletico Madrid.
Nemanja Matic
Ever since he was brought back to Stamford Bridge for a second spell from Benfica, Nemanja Matic has been an absolute credit to Chelsea.
Leaving a boy and returning a man, the Serbian international is a giant presence in Chelsea’s midfield and simply intimidates opponents.
Always willing to get stuck in while feeding those in front of him, Matic is a master of the defensive midfield role or Claude Makelele position as it used to be referred to.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Manchester United’s highest profile signing of the summer so far, World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger will bring vital experience and winning mentality to the Red Devils’ midfield.
Disposed of by Pep Guardiola given the embarrassment of riches Bayern Munich have in midfield right now, Schweinsteiger is still considered by many to be an astute signing this transfer window.
With both the German international and Morgan Schneiderlin having arrived on the same day this summer, Louis van Gaal will be spoilt for choice with both that duo, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick all on the books at Old Trafford.
Cesc Fabregas
Playing slightly ahead of Matic and Schweinsteiger in our combined eleven is Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas who would’ve never believed he’d be a Blues player once upon a time.
But in 2015, that’s exactly what he is and cast your mind back to the first half of last season and the former Arsenal man was assisting like there was no tomorrow.
Both he and Diego Costa struck up a fearsome combination which is only set to get better this time around.
Wayne Rooney
Still an incredibly talented footballer, Wayne Rooney will aim for at least 20 Premier League goals this term after being entrusted as Manchester United’s main man up top by Louis van Gaal.
Having been deployed deeper in the number 10 role on many occasions last term, Rooney’s goal haul suffered as a result but in fairness to the England international, there’s plenty more to his game.
The captain at Old Trafford nowadays, Rooney will lead from the front next season and United fans don’t need telling what they can expect from the former Everton academy graduate.
Eden Hazard
Last season’s PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard disproves the myth that big money purchases from Ligue 1 are a bad idea.
While the likes of Gervinho have arrived from the French top flight and flopped, fellow former Lille man Hazard has excelled and looks capable of scooping the Ballon d’Or crown before his career is out.
Probably the most eye-catching talent of the next generation behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Hazard is capable of absolutely everything on his day and you wouldn’t not back him to enjoy an equally successful season in 2015/16.
Diego Costa
As the above image shows, Diego Costa is a prickly character at the best of times but if these traits were ever taken away, he’d be half the player he is today.
A bully of a forward, Costa is idolised by Blues fans for his maverick approach and as long as he avoids seeing red and remains on the field, Chelsea supporters are happy.
Despite Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy being in reserve, a lot rests on Costa staying fit this season with the Spanish international striker quite simply in a different league to that pair.
