I’ve been recently
set the challenge of selecting a team with each player coming from a different
league. It sounds easy on paper, but it’s rather challenging! Here is my team:
4-3-3
GK -
Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow)
Akinfeev is
an outstanding shot stopper who has 18 clean sheets this season for Russia and
CSKA Moscow. Still only 27, he is certainly capable of replacing Victor Valdes
at Barcelona next year.
LB - Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Lahm can play
both right-back and left-back, which is a rarity in today’s game. He captains
both Germany and Bayern Munich and has 14 assists in all competitions this
season; astonishing for a full-back.
CB - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
Kompany missed
a lot of games through injuries this season and it’s no coincidence that City
are so far behind United in the Premier League. Kompany was included in the PFA Team of
the Year in both 2011 and 2012. He would have made the team this year too.
CB - Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Chiellini was
a key part of the water-tight Juventus defence that did not lose a single Serie A game
last season. An incredible achievement that was sadly largely overlooked by the
British media.
RB - Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Croatia’s
captain and most capped player with 102 caps. Definitely underrated, Srna should
be playing in the Premier League.
DM - Victor Wanyama (Celtic)
Extremely powerful
and can, at times, dominate the midfield. Definitely one to watch, and at only
21, Wanyama has the potential to be world class. Neil Lennon shares this view; he believes Wanyama is worth £25 million.
CM - Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray)
Quick and
technically gifted, Sneijder remains a world-class player despite his contract
dispute with Inter Milan. Sneijder has settled in well at Galatasaray, but I
believe a man of his talent should be playing for a better team.
CM - Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)
Another
playmaker, Gaitan continues to turn heads in the Primeira Liga. An excellent
passer, Manchester United were rumoured to be interested in the Argentine last
summer.
LW - Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Doesn’t need
an explanation really…
ST - Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris
Saint-Germain)
Despite not doing auditions, Ibrahimovic is one of the world’s best
strikers. The power that his shots can generate is astonishing. He currently has 33
goals in 40 games in all competitions for PSG this season.
RW - Neymar (Santos)
The greatest Brazilian
talent since Ronaldo. Neymar has 54 goals in 102 games for Santos and 19 goals
in 31 games for Brazil. Comparisons to Pelé are premature, but at just 21, time
is on Neymar’s side.
What do you
think? What would your team be? Tweet
us! @ChapsTalkFBall
By Kelvin Jones @KelvinJonesCBE
Statistics from whoscored.com
