Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Jack Flintham

Six Man City and one Manchester United player named in Garth Crooks' team of the season

Champions Manchester City dominate BBC pundit Garth Crooks' Premier League team of the season for 2022/23.

Out of the 11 players chosen, City stars account for more than half after they managed to pip Arsenal to the crown. The Blues' first participant in the XI is Ederson despite Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea winning the Golden Glove award.

Explaining his rationale, Crooks told the BBC: "It's not often I ignore the winner of the Golden Glove award but on this occasion I think I must. David de Gea has played his part in an impressive Manchester United recovery this season but much of that has been down to the way United have organised their defence rather than the sort of heroics we have seen from De Gea in the past.

ALSO READ: Haaland praises Guardiola after debut season

"This season belongs to Ederson, who has quietly, but very effectively, played a blinder for Manchester City. The Brazilian goalkeeper is almost as good with the ball at his feet as he is with it in his hands. This sets him apart from all the other keepers in the world."

Although he credited United's defence for helping De Gea win the Golden Glove, none of their defenders were included in the team either.

Instead the Blues' Ruben Dias and Manu Akanji, who both enjoyed sensational seasons, made the cut. In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan were included but there was no place for Jack Grealish.

United's sole entrant in the team is Casemiro. "I'm convinced the arrival of the Brazilian saved Manchester United's season," Crooks declared.

"Before Casemiro appeared on the scene they were in freefall. Cristiano Ronaldo was making demands of the club that were nothing short of outrageous and there was nobody who seemed capable of doing anything about it.

"Suddenly Casemiro came along and showed Ronaldo how a superstar should really conduct himself. Casemiro put his reputation to one side, rolled up his sleeves and dug in."

Marcus Rashford was a notable absentee in the frontline which unsurprisingly included Erling Haaland after his record breaking campaign. United and City will face each other one final time this campaign on Saturday when they compete for the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.

Crooks' full team of the season: Ederson; Trippier, Saliba, Dias, Akanji; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Casemiro, Odegaard; Kane, Haaland.

Get your hands on our 48-page souvenir United v City FA Cup final print supplement here

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.