With just one day remaining until the eagerly awaited Manchester Derby, both heavyweight clubs will be keen to make a statement this Saturday as the two are ready to lock horns at Old Trafford.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is coming off the back of a successful first month in charge at Old Trafford.
Mourinho will be keen to ensure his United side maintain their 100% winning start to the season and silence the critics surrounding him, following his controversial sacking from Chelsea last November.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is settling into life at the Etihad Stadium rather comfortably as he guided his side to five wins from five in August – scoring fifteen goals in the process.
Three league wins in-between securing qualification for the group stages of the Champions League meant Guardiola got off to the perfect start as City boss.
Both sides will be keen on one result this weekend, and we felt it was the perfect time here at the Transfer Tavern to take a look at a combined Manchester United and City XI! Check it out!
David De Gea
It’s very difficult to not include De Gea in this particular XI.
The Spanish international is without doubt in the top three goalkeepers in the world, with many of our locals firmly of the belief he is indeed the best.
His Manchester United career may not have gotten off to the best of start’s as nervous performances, and costly decision making led to many fans questioning De Gea’s worth.
Now a priceless member of the squad, De Gea has saved United’s skin on more occasions in recent memory than some United fans care to imagine.
Bacary Sagna
Time and time again Bacary Sagna has proven his quality as one of the league’s best defenders.
A seven-year spell at Arsenal ended in 2014 with him swapping London for Manchester and now the Frenchman has become a regular under Pep Guardiola.
It must be said that it’s undoubtedly the weakest position both teams have in their squads, however Sagna’s ability to drive forward and remain aware of his surroundings make him the perfect right-back for this combined XI
Vincent Kompany
Injury ravished maybe, but when fit, Vincent Kompany has shown he can compete with the very best.
City’s central-defensive woes are ceased when Kompany is in the team and he’s certainly a presence City lack when they enter into big games.
The former Hamburg player is exactly the sort of player United have been missing since Rio Ferdinand departed the club in 2014 after twelve years at Old Trafford.
Kompany’s composure on the ball, his strength and presence combined with his superb leadership qualities make him a certainty when piecing together our combined XI.
John Stones
Arguably the world’s most sought after defender, as less than a year after an infamous move to Chelsea (then managed by Jose Mourinho) collapsed, Stones found himself under the tutelage of Mourinho’s nemesis Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The Blues forked out a sizeable sum for the central-defender who has been described as potentially the best defender of his generation, as his composure on the ball, ability to read the game and decision making mean John Stones guarantees himself a place in the Tavern’s combined XI.
Luke Shaw
Like Stones, Shaw has the potential to become the best player in his position for more than a generation.
His consistent performances for Manchester United meant Shaw was a certainty for this XI.
Full-backs in the modern game have become so important to a side’s attack that they often forget their defensive duties.
Shaw is one of a rare breed of full-back’s who can not only defend, but also attack.
A horrific leg-break last September put a major cloud on Shaw’s career but the left-back has come back fitter and stronger than he was prior to the injury that ruled him out for almost a year.
Paul Pogba
The world’s most expensive player would fit into any side at this stage of his career.
Pogba’s big money return to Manchester United have the world watching with many hoping for the player to fail – however that remains a highly unlikely possibility.
The 23-year-old is the perfect player for United as his ability to go from box-to-box has not been seen in the Premier League since the early days of Steven Gerrard at Liverpool.
Pogba is certainly a perfect fit to join this Manchester XI.
Fernandinho
The ultimate anchor-man in a City side that has won three trophies in three years.
The Brazilian has won the hearts of many City fans since his big-money move to the Etihad Stadium in 2013.
Providing protection to a leaky City defence, Fernandinho had allowed Yaya Toure to become a greater attacking force under former boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Now the conductor in Pep Guardiola’s midfield, Fernandinho’s ‘no nonsense’ style would allow a creative player to flourish in any team.
Kevin De Bruyne
A Chelsea reject but surely on his way to becoming a Manchester City legend.
Kevin De Bruyne’s remarkable failure to settle in Stamford Bridge clouded fans’ judgement of his mega-money move to Manchester City in 2015, but he has since begin to pay off his £54million price-tag.
The Belgian’s creativity and attacking presence proved decisive last season as City maintained a top four finish ahead of bitter rivals, Manchester United.
15 goals and 17 assists in just 47 games highlights his importance to City and ensure him as a perfect choice in a combined Manchester XI.
Raheem Sterling
Every stadium Sterling plays at he is met by a chorus of chants from opposition fans, due to his poor performances for England during Euro 2016.
With Sterling looking like a player whose confidence was shot, he has since started the season in devastating fashion scoring three goals and assisting four at the same time.
It’s not just the goal involvement he has added to his game under Guardiola, but his ability to wreak havoc on opposition defences mean Sterling would be the perfect right-winger in this combined team.
Anthony Martial
Deciding between Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Silva and Anthony Martial was the toughest decision, but France internaitonal edges ahead of the pecking order due his flexibility to play across the front three.
Martial’s pace proved crucial as he guided Manchester United to a Europa League spot despite an incredibly poor season under Louis Van Gaal.
Now a full international player with France, Martial’s move to United caused much controversy as AS Monaco received £58million for a player who scored just 11 times in Ligue 1 prior to his record-breaking transfer.
His glorious solo goal against Liverpool on his Old Trafford debut allowed United fans to create an instant bond with their prized asset.
Sergio Aguero
The easiest decision was to decide who would be the star striker in this side. Sergio Aguero’s performances during his Manchester City career make him the first name on the team-sheet.
With seven goals in eight Derby matches prove that Aguero is a player for the big occasions. Aguero’s superb ability to create space to score from impossible situations have made him an iconic figure for Manchester City – even at the age of 28.
His proven Premier League capability combined with his sensational goals to games ratio make Aguero a very easy choice when picking the final player in our Tavern’s Manchester combined XI.
