Manchester-Barca Utd: Team of 21st century

Barcelona & Manchester united have been this century’s two most successful clubs. Since turn of the century, these two clubs (with Bayern Munich) have dominated their domestic and European football like no one else. With four CL crowns and countless domestic honors, this decade has proved to be one of their most successful periods for the two clubs. Here, we look at how the best of two best clubs would be like.

Criteria:

As this is a debatable topic, it is imperative that we lay down the guidelines for selecting the XI. Only player’s active days (2000- till date) at either one of the clubs will be considered. Parameters used to judge the players are- Total number of years at the club, Importance of the player during those years, number of trophies club won during his stay, his role in those victories, number of individual honors he won, and suitability to the XI.

Formation:

Barcelona won three champions league titles with the usual 4-3-3 formation. So, I would prefer Barcelona’s 4-3-3 over Manchester’s traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Goal Keeper:

Edwin van der Sar:

As another one of Ferguson’s master stroke, Van der sar arrived at Old Trafford for a reported fee of 2 million pounds in the twilight of his career. Little did he know, he was to embark on one of his most successful periods as a footballer. His performances in opening two seasons prompted Fergie to hail him as the best goal keeper United had since departure of Peter Schmeichel.

Known for his cool and composed demeanor, he helped United clinch CL crown on penalties with man of the match performance. In the 2008–09 season, he set the world league clean sheet record by not conceding a goal for 1,311 minutes.

266 Games 11 Trophies 1 CL Win

ESM Team of the year: One Time

UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year: One Time

PFA Team of the year: 3 Times

UEFA Champions League Final MOM: 2008

Sub: Victor Valdes

Central Defenders:

Nemanja Vidic:

Vidic came to prominence in Serbia’s 2006 World cup qualifying campaign. As part of the ‘famous four’, he conceded just one goal in the entire campaign to help Serbia finish above Spain in their group. Those performances caught the eyes of Alex Ferguson resulting in defender’s move to Old Trafford for paltry $10 million. Ever since move to Manchester United, Vidic has grown as a defender. Strong in the air to make up for his lack of speed, he formed formidable partnership with Ferdinand to play a vital role in Man Utd’s CL victory in 2008.

Two Barclays player of the year awards earn him the place in starting XI ahead of Rio Ferdinand.

243 Games, 13 Trophies, 1 CL Win

Barclays player of the year: 2008-09, 2010-11

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2 Times

ESM Team of the year: 3 Times

PFA Team of the year: 4 Times

Carles Puyol:

Catalonia’s very own captain caveman; Looks, Strength & Lion’s heart, Puyol has all the traits of a caveman. His pure enthusiasm to give his best makes up for whatever lack of tactical awareness there is. His versatility to play either flanks, acts as added advantage. Having started his career as a right back under Van Gaal, Puyol soon established himself as central defender. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, he has held the Barca defence together. He is one of the few Barcelona’s players to endure Barcelona’s best and worst periods.

522 Games, 19 Trophies, 3 CL wins

UEFA Team of the Year: 6 Times

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2 Times

UEFA Club Best Defender: 2006

ESM Team of the year: 4 Times

Subs: Rio Ferdinand, Gerard Pique

Left Back:

Patrice Evra:

Introduced to the Man United in 2006, Evra has made everyone forget that United had a certain defender named Gabriel Heinze. Though he took time to get adjusted to the Premier League, he has established himself as one of vital components of CL winning Manchester squad. Using his early years experience as center forward, he has provided united with attacking threat on left hand side.

292 Games 13 Trophies 1 CL Win

PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 3 Times

FIFPro World XI: One time

UEFA Team of the year: One time

Sub: Gio Van Bronckhorst

Right Back:

Dani Alves:

15 Goals and 68 Assists in just four seasons is certainly not bad for an attacking midfielder let alone for a defender. Brought from Sevilla for the then record fee for a defender, Dani Alves has become one of best attacking right backs Barcelona ever had. His one-twos with Messi have become cynosure of Barcelona’s tiki-taka sytle. Known for his pace, anticipation and stamina, he is competent defender too.

He takes his spot ahead of Gary Neville.

208 Matches, 15 Goals and 68 Assists, 14 Trophies, 2 CL win

FIFPro World XI: 2 Times

UEFA Team of the year: 2 Times

ESM Team of the year: 3 Times

Sub: Gary Neville

Midfielders:

Xavi Hernández:

If ever asked to pick a best XI of this decade, a very few experts would leave out Xavi out of their squad. Thus, it’s no surprise that he takes one of CM spots in this team. A graduate of La Masia Academy, Xavi is the finest midfielder Spanish football has ever produced. The puppet master, who runs the show for Barcelona through his playmaking, is embodiment of creative football.

Alex Ferguson once joked, ‘I’m sure I saw Xavi give away ball once…way back in 1996’

564 Games 19 Trophies 3 CL win

FIFA Ballon d’Or: 3rd place 2010, 3rd Place 2011

Ballon d’Or: 3rd Place 2009

UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2nd Place 2010-11

UEFA Champions League Final MOM: 2009

Andres Iniesta:

Pep Guardiola, the then-Barca midfielder and current manager once famously told Xavi: “You’re going to retire me. This lad is going to retire us all.”

Andres Iniesta is nick named ‘El Illusionista’ not without any reasons. Popular for his silky dribbling skills, this unassuming midfielder spent his early years at the club impressing within various roles. In the summer of 2007, impressed with his performances including 2nd half performance in 2006 CL final, Real Madrid offered to pay 60 million euros for his services. Those reports finally made realise Barca think-tank his significance in the team. Since then, he has formed one of the deadliest midfield partnerships with Xavi.

408 Games 19 Trophies, 3 CL win

FIFA Ballon d’Or: Second place 2010, 4th Place 2011

Ballon d’Or: 4th Place 2009

UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 4th Place 2010-11

La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2009

Paul Scholes:

“My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation”

Just the way Zidane endorses, Scholes is this generation’s most complete midfielder. Play-making deep from his own half, the ball-distributing machine has all the weapons in his armoury- long passes, short passes, shots, air balls. The unsung hero has been architect behind the United’s dominance in English football in this century.

So, he earns his place in the XI behind Barcelona duo (positionally).

459 Games 14 Trophies 1 CL Win

PFA Team of the Year: 2 Times

Subs: Deco, Sergio Busquets, Roy Keane

Wingers:

Lionel Messi:

The less said about Messi, the better. Given his records, individual honours and goal stats, only idiots would leave him out of the side.

I don’t think I have enough space to list his awards here.

Ronaldinho:

Cristiano Ronaldo may be by far the better player than Ronaldinho. However, there was really little to choose between Ronaldo of Manchester and Ronaldinho of Barcelona. They won almost the same accolades and honours during their stay at their clubs. (Ronaldinho won two ‘FIFA World player of the year’ awards to Ronlado’s one). But, significance of what Ronaldinho did to reviltalize Barcelona clinches his place in the XI at the expense of Ronaldo; He was single important reason in lifting Barcelona out of crisis in 2003-04.

Brought as a backup plan for David Beckham, he has been without doubt the Barcelona’s finest acquisition this decade. He revoultionized the game of football with his dribbling, tricks & wonderful goals. Standing ovation he received from Madrid fans after an ‘El Clasico’ stands testament to that fact. There was simply no player who could emulate the Ronaldinho during his peak days (2004-06).

“Ronaldinho is technically very good, but also very strong physically. He was against three players and I could not stop him. After that goal everything ended for us”

This came from John Terry of Good old days.

254 Matches 107 Goals 80 Assists 5 Trophies, 1 CL

FIFA World player of the year: Winner 2 Times; 3rd one Time

Ballon d’or: Winner One Time; 3rd One Time

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 3 Times

UEFA Team of the Year: 3 Times

Subs: Cristiano Ronaldo & Ryan Giggs

Forward:

Samuel Eto’O

This is again a tricky choice. Three names that make the list are: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Mark Rooney & Samuel Eto’o.

As United’s most proilific goal scorer, Nistelrooy had a knack for scoring goals. With a goals-to-games ratio of 0.69 goals per match, he was the right man for being in the right place at the right time. No wonder, he holds the record for scoring in eight consecutive matches in the Premier League. He’s also United’s all-time highest goalscorer in Europe. Although, not winning important trophies undoes his good work.

Then there is Wayne Rooney. The wonder kid, introduced to the world through ‘Remember-the-name’ goal, is the youngest goal scorer in the EPL. Brought from Everton, he has spearheaded United attack for last six years. Also known for scoring some breathtaking goals, Rooney has won EPL’s Goal of the season thrice including Best goal in EPL 20 Season Awards.

But, the player who makes the cut ahead of these two players is Samuel Eto’O. Another Real Madrid reject, he was striker of immaculate skills. The technically gifted goal-scorer was man for the big occasions. He is one of the two players to score in two different CL finals in winning cause.

He edges out Rooney on CL trohies, stats and individual honours.

130 Goals in 200 Matches 8 Trophies 2 CL

UEFA Team of the year: 2 Times

UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006

2005 FIFA World Player of the Year: Third

UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2006

ESM Team of the year: 3 Times

Subs: Wayne Rooney, Ruud Van Nistelrooy