In a combined XI with their Champions League final opponents Liverpool, Steve McManaman could only fit TWO Real Madrid players.
On Saturday night, the two European powerhouses will face off in Paris, with the Spaniards aiming for a 14th European title, while the Reds can capture the trophy for the eighth time.
Madrid enters the game having already clinched the LaLiga title and coming off one of the most amazing Champions League runs in recent memory. In each of the knockout stages, Los Blancos appeared to be doomed, only to come back to beat Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and, most recently, Manchester City.
Liverpool, on the other hand, arrives to the Stade de France having barely lost the Premier League championship to City, but having previously won the FA Cup and League Cup. The final on Saturday is also a rematch of the 2018 final, which Madrid won 3-1, and the quarter-final from last season, which concluded with the same scoreline on aggregate.
However, following a fantastic season, the Premier League team enters the final as minor favourites, while Carlo Ancelotti's squad is still a work in progress. And McManaman, who played for both sides during his career, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2000, believes his childhood club has a much superior starting lineup.
When asked to put together an XI, there were just a few stumbling blocks, beginning with Thibaut Courois in goal: "Thibaut Courois has had a wonderful season, he's got his critics, he had his detractors in his first season, but he's had a very nice season... "Unfortunately, I'm going to pick Alisson Becker," he said to Betway Insider.
The Reds swept the back-four, with the BT Sport analyst predicting that either Ibrahima Konate or Joel Matip will replace David Alaba, despite the latter's excellent debut season in the Spanish city.
McManaman chose Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson over Toni Kroos in midfield, Fabinho in the holding role, and Luka Modric over Thiago in defense. Because of Modric's selection, there was no place for Thiago in the final, but Jurgen Klopp is hoping the Spaniard can participate and has given a good report after his player suffered an injury in the last game of the season.
"I met him inside, [there's] a fair possibility he'll be training this afternoon, he did some stuff this morning," he told reporters on Wednesday. He had not intended on conducting this session with the players, but it appears like he will be able to participate in training tomorrow."Of course, that would be quite beneficial. We'll take it from there. It's a pleasant surprise. I wasn't optimistic after the game, but we found out later that night that it doesn't appear to be as awful as it appears. We'll have to wait and see. I can imagine... three days before a game, he won't be able to practice, but we'll do our best to make sure we do the right thing at the right time."
Then, in the offensive third, it was Karim Benzema who, predictably, put an end to Liverpool's domination. With 15 goals in the Champions League, he will finish as the tournament's top scorer and is a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. The Frenchman is included alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, the latter being lauded for 'taking up the baton' from his teammate in recent weeks.
"Salah started his season really, really well," McManaman remarked. He was ahead of everyone because of the quantity of goals he scored. Vinicius Jr. was a very unlucky man to miss out, but the fact that he'll be up against Sadio Mane - who is in fantastic form right now, having just won the African Cup of Nations in January - has ensured their place in the World Cup.
"Salah has had a fantastic four or five months, and I believe Mane has lately taken over the mantle, so he deserves to be in my team as well." Karim is having the finest season of his career. He's in that phase where everything he touches turns to gold...two Real Madrid players, NINE Liverpool guys. That's how I'm feeling right now.
Steve McManaman’s Liverpool and Real Madrid Combined XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold; Van Dijk, Konate,Robertson; Modric, Fabinho, Henderson; Mane, Benzema, Salah.
blogpay
