Skip to content

Man Utd v Leicester City combined XI: Charlie Nicholas makes his picks

Anthony Martial of Manchester United and Ngolo Kante of Leicester City
Image: Anthony Martial and N'Golo Kante (left) both make Charlie Nicholas' side

We asked Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas to pick his best combined XI from Manchester United's and Leicester City's squads ahead of their potential title decider on Super Sunday.

The Foxes can wrap up the most unlikely of title triumphs with a victory at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports 1HD, while United will be looking to boost their top-four hopes.

Live Ford Super Sunday

Sunday's showdown is also the selected as Sky Sports' Fantasy Six-a-Side fixture, with £10,000 up for grabs to the highest scoring entrant of the free-to-play game.

Here's who Charlie rates as the best XI for the crucial clash…

GOALKEEPER - David de Gea

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20:  David De Gea of Manchester United celebrates as Marcus Rashford of Manchester United scores their first goal during the Ba
Image: David De Gea is at a 'different level' to Kasper Schmeichel, says Charlie

Kasper Schmeichel has been absolutely fantastic and his father must be tremendously proud. All successful teams have a top goalkeeper and he's proven to be just that.

However, De Gea is just at a different level. I remember playing with Pat Jennings, who I called god, he just had everything as one of the first goalkeepers to save with his legs.

Also See:

DEFENCE - Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs

Wes Morgan celebrates giving Leicester the lead
Image: Wes Morgan's partnership with Robert Huth has been crucial for Leicester

Danny Simpson has done well and is vastly improved but he's edged out by my one United defender. I've gone for Fosu-Mensah, who every time I see him I wonder how he hasn't been in the team all season. This kid is going to be a superstar.

The United defence has been pretty solid and Daley Blind has done better than we expected while Chris Smalling has had an okay season. However, Morgan and Huth know how to do their job so well and they're also a threat from set-pieces.

At left-back I've gone for Fuchs. He's a calm and cool defender who keeps everything simple and is a very efficient.

Every time I see him I wonder how he hasn't been in the team all season. This kid is going to be a superstar.
Charlie Nicholas on Timothy Fosu-Mensah

MIDFIELD - Danny Drinkwater, N'Golo Kante, Michael Carrick

This midfield obviously doesn't have many goals in it but it provides the platform for the front three to deliver.

Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante have been fantastic as a pair, with Drinkwater spraying passes all over the park while Kante charges around. Kante isn't a holding midfielder for me. Everyone compares him to Claude Makelele but he's a better player and he passes forward whenever possible.

I've always been a big Michael Carrick fan and I'd have him holding and letting the other two do their work.

FORWARDS - Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial of Manchester United celebrates scoring his side's second goal
Image: Anthony Martial 'has pace, power and is a decent finisher'

Mahrez is probably the first name on my team sheet. Who would be competing against him? Jesse Lingard? Juan Mata? Mata is a great little player but I don't think United's style suits him.

Then Vardy goes in as my central striker. Marcus Rashford hasn't been in the team long enough but he does look like a potential superstar.

Martial completes my line-up. He has scored big goals and looks a great signing. He's got pace, power and is a decent finisher.

Think you can pick a better eam than Charlie? Pick your Fantasy Six-a-Side team for Manchester United v Leicester City here.

Around Sky