Combined Lineup - Manchester City and Manchester United - a tactical analysis for the FA Cup final
- William Russell
- Jun 2, 2023
- 8 min read
Manchester City go into their next two matches knowing they are just two wins away from winning the treble, an achievement only ever achieved before in English football by local rivals Manchester United.
On Saturday, City face bitter rivals (in more sense than one) United in the FA Cup final, and Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final a week later, both of which are matches where City are the overwhelming favourites on paper.
Many City fans are creating (slightly tongue in cheek) online predicted lineups without a single Manchester United player in it, and to be honest, that isn't too far from the truth.
Erik ten Hag's appointment last summer has significantly improved the Red Devils, to the extent where they were able to beat City at Old Trafford at the end of January, thanks to late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
But, at the point of that game, City were nowhere near as good as they are now, and didn't start currently influential players such as Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, Ruben Dias and goal scorer on the day Jack Grealish, when they lost 2-1 back in January.
The Blues have many players who would walk into every team in the world, and face the prospect of having to leave quality players such as Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Manuel Akanji on the bench for at least one of the finals.
City are, at the moment and for the last 10 years, clearly the better of the two sides, and naturally dominate opinion polls when it comes to combined 11's with almost every team in the world.
But United have quality players too, who would be an asset for any team in the world.
They've spent more money than City since Pep Guardiola arrived at the club, and, despite that not showing in some places - namely Jadon Sancho, Angel Di Maria, Romelu Lukaku and Harry Maguire - they have admittedly made some excellent signings recently, in the shape of Fernandes, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
So, if we were to combine the squads, who would make the starting 11? Erik ten Hag has worked closely with Pep Guardiola before at Bayern Munich, so holds many of the same tactical preferences.
Inverted wingers, full backs that can drop into midfield and goalkeepers that are good with their feet are players that are admired by the two managers, and both squads are filled with those players to an abundance.
Versatile attacking midfielders are also valued - and played out of their regular position - by both managers, with the main difference being Ten Hag preferring a slightly more direct style to Guardiola.
The other difference is the formation, the Dutchman prefers to operate with a more fluid 4-2-3-1 system, just like the Dutch "total football," in the era of Johan Cruyff.
The Spaniard also keeps things traditional by playing a low tempo, short passing 4-3-3 "tiki taka" system, associated with the Spain national team that won 3 consecutive international tournaments in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
So here is The 2 Silvas Blog's combined Manchester City and Manchester United lineup. As always, injured players are excluded, meaning Antony, Anthony Martial and Lisandro Martinez don't make the cut, whilst Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Kevin de Bruyne's recent involvement in training means they're in contention.
Goalkeeper - Ederson
Widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world with the ball at his feet, Ederson is a no brainer in the combined 11.
Despite it being Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea who won the Golden Glove, it could be argued that it is the work of the defence in front of him that allowed the Spaniard to win the award that has been dominated by the Brazilian recently. If it were all down to De Gea, then there is no way that his future at United would be up in the air.
Since the turn of the year, the 29 year old's shot stopping has increased massively, with his key saves against Bayern Munich and Leicester City winning the game for City, seeing him comfortably ease into the City-United lineup.
Right back - Kyle Walker
After Pep Guardiola told the manager that Kyle Walker "didn't fit the system" a few months ago, the 32 year old has battled his way in to make sure that Guardiola was left with no option but to tweak that successful system.
Like Ten Hag, Guardiola wants an extra man in midfield, and he has found a way to do that now by dropping John Stones into midfield from centre back, rather than right back, meaning Walker can show off what has made him so successful since he joined from Tottenham in 2017.
His pace, strength and athleticism, as well as being as technically capable as most midfielders, makes him the ideal full back in Ten Hag and Guardiola's book.
It must be admitted however, that Aaron Wan-Bissaka runs him close, with there being a significant improvement to the 25 year old's game recently, but Walker edges him with his experience on the big stage.
Right centre back - John Stones
The best all round defender in the world, otherwise known as John Stones from Barnsley, is another player who is an absolute certainty to start for the combined Manchester team.
Providing an option as the extra man in midfield, it's a testament to the quality of City's number 5 that he starts over quality centre backs such as Aymeric Laporte, Raphael Varane and Manuel Akanji in the combined 11, but his ball playing skills alone, never mind his more traditional centre back qualities, make him an automatic pick.
One of a few City players who would start for every team in the world, he is Guardiola's dream, and the same would apply for Erik ten Hag.
Left centre back - Ruben Dias
At the heart of the defence, Ruben Dias is the most traditional centre back Pep Guardiola has ever had. Unlike Stones, his standout qualities are his aggression, anticipation, physicality and blocking ability.
He would link up well with the rest of the backline, offering his tremendous leadership and organisation skills.
Left back - Nathan Ake
If he was fully fit, I'd put Lisandro Martinez in at left back, purely because I feel like Manchester United have been slightly underrepresented so far. As it is, it looks like I'll have to settle for the better player instead.
For me, Ake is the best defensive full back in the world, looking solid and unflappable whoever he comes up against. Bukayo Saka, in particular, has struggled against him twice this season, with Dejan Kulusevski, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane not getting any joy against him either.
It cannot be overstated how important his recent return to fitness could be for City's treble prospects, as he offers a quality option at either left back or centre back. He is well valued by Pep Guardiola, and would certainly be well valued by Erik ten Hag too.
Right sided "6"- Casemiro
Signed for £60 million at the end of the summer transfer window, 31 year old Casemiro has completely revolutionised Manchester United's midfield since he arrived at the club.
The Brazilian is sharp and combative in the centre of the park for Ten Hag's side, and has vast experience on the top stage, winning 5 UEFA Champions Leagues with his former club Real Madrid.
Since about February, however, he hasn't been quite as imperious as earlier this season, and certainly hasn't been as good as Ilkay Gundogan recently.
However, Casemiro is still a world class player, and I felt as though there has to be a least some Manchester United representation in the combined 11.
Left sided "6" - Rodri
Adding further steel to the midfield is Rodri, the holding midfielder who's game has come on leaps and bounds since he arrived at the club in 2019.
Playing both Rodri and Casemiro fits more in with Ten Hag's 4-2-3-1 system, giving more freedom to the 4 forward players. With John Stones also dropping into holding midfield, then nobody would take the ball off, or launch a quick counter attack against, this combined 11.
Rodri is technically excellent enough to push on a bit if required to do so, to more of a Guardiola style 4-3-3 formation.
Joined by Stones and Casemiro, the City-United team can merge into a 3-3-1-3 formation in possession, that has seen success for Guardiola's side in the 3-0 wins over Sheffield United and West Ham United.
Right winger - Bernardo Silva
Playing in arguably the most tightly contested place in the side is Bernardo Silva, who slightly edges the right wing position ahead of his Portugal teammate and Manchester United vice captain Bruno Fernandes.
Ten Hag and Guardiola love hard working, tenacious and skilful playmakers like Bernardo and Fernandes, so both of them would fit like a glove into this combined 11.
I was tempted to opt for the United player (for the simple reason being this combined 11 probably needs more United players) but what made me go for Bernardo is for Guardiola and Ten Hag's preference to use inverted wingers. The 28 year old ticks this box, as well as having more experience on the right wing than Fernandes.
Number 10 - Kevin de Bruyne
Another player who would stroll into any side, with the elegance and grace in which he plays football, Kevin de Bruyne should be given all the freedom possible in this side.
Operating just off the striker, the Belgian knows he has the defensive steel of Rodri and Casemiro behind him, giving him the license to roam around the pitch and find space in between the lines.
And, to add a Ten Hag tactic, De Bruyne can drop into deeper wider positions, and play a ball over the top for the combined 11's forwards, with the 31 year old arguably being the best player in the world at doing this.
Left winger - Marcus Rashford
In another tightly contested battle between Rashford and his England teammate Jack Grealish, it is the 25 year old who edges a place in the 11.
Rashford offers one major thing: pace. He has excellent movement as well, and loves nothing more but to pounce on a ball in behind to run through and beat a keeper in a 1 vs 1 chance.
The United academy product was on fire after the return from the World Cup, cementing his position as one of the best players in the world. Since then however, he has just 3 goals in 14 Premier League matches, and doesn't have as complete an all round game as Grealish.
But, to suit Ten Hag's system - and to get a greater proportion of Manchester United players in the starting lineup, Rashford is included in his favourite position on the left wing.
Striker - Erling Haaland
For a man who seems so far away from what Pep Guardiola wants from a centre forward (and much more similar to what Erik Ten Hag wants,) Erling Haaland hasn't been bad for Manchester City.
With just a record breaking 36 goals in his first Premier League season, Haaland has terrorised defenders with his pace, movement and physicality.
Alongside Marcus Rashford, Haaland can sit on the shoulder of the defence and rampage into vacated space behind the backline, something I would imagine we will see a lot more next season, as Manchester City's midfielders still adapt to playing with a centre forward.
Substitutes
There is a lot of quality in both squads, meaning there are going to be some exceptional players missing out the 20 man combined squad.
As always, there are a few players who, for me, are absolute certainties to be included on the bench, and they consist of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ilkay Gundogan, Bruno Fernandes and Jack Grealish, the 4 players who came closest to making the starting 11.
We need a goalkeeper, and, whilst I'm tempted to go for Stefan Ortega-Moreno for his ability with his feet, but David de Gea makes the bench for his tremendous shot stopping ability.
One centre back and one left sided defender are needed too. It is a closely fought battle, but I'm going to go for a player from each side, Manuel Akanji and Luke Shaw respectively.
We have a nice, balanced bench now, so the last two places are up for grabs for every other player.
I feel like we may need another attacker on the bench. It is close, but, for his versatility, I will go for Manchester City's Phil Foden.
The final spot essentially goes down to who is the "best of the rest," i.e. the best remaining player, which I think is United's Raphael Varane.
The bench, which is much more equal between Manchester United and Manchester City representation, shows that the Red Devils do have some excellent players, but, realistically, none of them are good enough to start for a full strength City side.
Commiserations to the likes of Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho, who narrowly missed out on a place in the squad.
Recap
Starting 11: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Casemiro, Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Rashford; Haaland.
Substitutes: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Akanji, Shaw, Gundogan, Fernandes, Grealish, Foden
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