It is still hard to believe this season’s FA Cup final is the first between Manchester City and Manchester United. It would be rude not to make a combined XI of the two teams, wouldn’t it?

GK: Ederson (Manchester City)
Ederson is much better than David De Gea. It really is as simple as that. He is more reliable, a better shot-stopper, has better handling, commands his box better, and is in a completely different universe when it comes to playing out from the back. Next.

RB: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Arguably the best right-back in Premier League history, Walker is still going very, very strong. Not many wingers can get the better of him and we could see Marcus Rashford have one of his quieter games of the season on Saturday.

CB: John Stones (Manchester City)
Is it just me, or has John Stones really established himself as one of the best centre-backs in world football this season? Has he always been rated that highly? Either way, he walks into this team ahead of a fit Lisandro Martinez, who is United’s best central defender, so Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof barely deserve the mention they have just been given.

CB: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Better than Stones, so this is a no-brainer.

LB: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
We had to give them one, didn’t we? In fairness, Shaw has been excellent this term after reacting very well to losing his place in the starting XI early on in Erik ten Hag’s tenure. Nathan Ake is unlucky to miss out, though. As is Manuel Akanji, who has been one of the signings of the season.

DM: Rodri (Manchester City)
Only Rodri can make Casemiro’s omission non-debatable. What a player he is.

CM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
This man will lift one half of the trophy with Harry Maguire if United win, with the England defender expected to go full John Terry if he does not play.

Casemiro could have made the team as another defensive midfielder, but Fernandes has been brilliant this season. In fact, he has had a pretty underrated campaign to an extent.

Premier League most chances created: ‘Striker’s dream’ Bruno Fernandes finishes first

CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
As far as no-brainers go, this is right up there as one that requires a brain the least.

RW: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Leaving Rashford out of this team felt very harsh, so a swift position change (which is allowed because I make the rules here) has been made.

Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden all missing out is also pretty harsh. But we love Rashy.

ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
It was almighty close between Haaland and Wout Weghorst. The City striker just made it in after scoring 50 more goals (in England) this season.

On a side note, Haaland scored three and assisted two in a single match against United this season, which was the best individual performance of 22/23.

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LW: Jack Grealish (Manchester City)
Super Jacky Grealish has finally adapted to  Pep Guardiola’s system after some teething issues in his debut season, which is to be expected when you join City, but not when you cost £100,000,000.

Grealish’s inclusion is the reason Rashford has been flung over to the right, which is a testament to how impressive he has been in 22/23. Having scored five goals in 48 matches this season, it is fair to say that the England winger’s game goes a lot further than statistics.

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