SUNSPORT have had their say on the ultimate combined Manchester derby XI… But do the stats agree?
And by stats, I mean the all-powerful footballing gods of Fifa 17.
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Ahead of the eagerly-anticipated showdown between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, I mean, Manchester United and Manchester City, SunSport takes a look at which stars get the nod.
For the following XI, any unavailable players have been left benched… Which is bad news for City front-man Sergio Aguero who, despite his 89 rating, will be suspended for the clash at Old Trafford.
The Argentine forward is serving the first of a three-game ban following his elbow on West Ham defender Winston Reid before the international break.
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GK: David De Gea (90) – Man United
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FIRST up is one of only two 90+ rated players in the Premier League, United stopper De Gea.
The Spaniard is the obvious choice to take the No1 spot in the derby XI, with Claudio Bravo expected to be around the 83-rated mark as he was on Fifa 16.
RB: Bacary Sagna (81) – Man City
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FRENCH defender Sagna gets takes the right-back spot in the all-Manchester XI rather simply.
The City man is expected to preserve his place over the ageing Pablo Zabaleta for City, while United have been relient on winger Antonio Valencia to do a job in defence.
CB: Nicolas Otamendi (85) – Man City
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WITH Vincent Kompany, 86-rated, injured for the derby, it is up to Nicolas Otamendi to take the first centre-back spot in the derby team.
The Argentine ace is due to be dished out a whopping 85 rating, so his selection is a no-brainer.
CB: Chris Smalling (85) – Man United
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UNITED man Smalling will join Otamendi as an 85-rated player on Fifa 17… Beating £47.5million-man John Stones.
The England man‘s rating eclipses that of Phil Jones, Daley Blind and Stones – and goes straight into the Manchester XI.
LB: Luke Shaw (80) – Man United
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ONE of the tougher decisions in the XI was who to choose over Shaw or Gael Clichy.
Both were rated at around the same level on last year’s edition – and this year is expected to be no different.
Shaw gets the nod this time as he proved in a brief spell before his horror injury last season that he has the potential to be one of the world’s top full-backs.
CDM: Ilkay Gundogan (85) – Man City
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PERHAPS the most controversial pick on the list, Gundogan is not expected to start the clash at Old Trafford as he ramps up his return from injury.
But with the German back in training – twinned with his high 85 rating – he’s too good a player to turn down…
RCM: Paul Pogba (88) – Man United
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FOR £109m, you’d better believe Mourinho will be playing Pogba in every game possible… And so will we.
The dynamic French midfielder has an 88 rating on the 2016-17 edition of Fifa and is the first name in the midfield ranks, here.
LCM: David Silva (87) – Man City
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SPANISH star Silva has been enjoying himself in a deeper role this season and will line up alongside Pogba in the middle of the park.
The midfielder‘s 87 rating more than justifies his inclusion; it’s even good enough for the Premier League top 20, at No12.
RW: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (85) – Man United
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HE’S failed to nail down a starting spot in the starting XI thus far, but Mkhitaryan is rumoured to be rated 85 on Fifa 17.
The Armenian will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with at Old Trafford, so he gets the nod here.
LW: Kevin De Bruyne (88) – Man City
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HE’S been playing the No10 role all season so far, to great effect, but you just can’t leave De Bruyne out.
The Belgian will take the left, attacking midfield berth with a sky-high rating of 88 in the latest edition of the video game franchise.
ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (90) – Man United
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WE end where we started, with the other of just two 90-rated stars in the Manchester teams, with the final spot going to that man Ibrahimovic.
The Swede star has netted three goals in just three Premier League games so far this term and is a no-brainer to make the all-Manchester XI here.
Just imagine how strong a front-line there could have been had Aguero (89) not had a rush of blood to the head…
RESULT
MAN UNITED 6 MAN CITY 5
So United win this round… Now have your say on whether you think Mourinho or Guardiola had a better summer in the transfer market in our poll.
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