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Manchester United are one of the biggest football clubs in the world. During the Alex Ferguson era, United were perennial title contenders. If not for Barcelona and AC Milan, United would have won more trophies on the European stage.
Since Ferguson’s departure, Manchester United haven’t been able to compete at the highest level, though. Seven different managers (including interims and caretakers) have taken the reigns at Old Trafford since 2013. In this period, the club have’t been able to win the Premier League or the Champions League.
Manchester United are still one of the biggest football clubs
Nevertheless, Manchester United are one of the most widely supported clubs in the world. A significant reason for that is their plethora of superstars.
United recently signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus, which immensely boosted their fan base and shirt sales. Bruno Fernandes and David de Gea are two other players who have written their names in United folklore.
Currently fifth in the Premier League table, Manchester United have some work to do if they are to be considered one of the best teams in the world.
However, how strong would they be if the field shrunk to a 5-a-side arena? They might fare well, considering the number of skilled players they have. On that note, here’s look at Manchester United’s strongest hypothetical 5-a-side team comprising active players.
#1 David de Gea
David de Gea would be the man between the sticks in Manchester United’s 5-a-side team. He recently kept his 200th clean sheet for the club.
Widely considered a Manchester United legend, De Gea has a knack of making crazy saves. He is renowned for his impressive reflexes. As far as 5-a-side football is concerned, that attribute is a non-negotiable for a goalkeeper.
Last season, Dean Henderson knocked on the door to take over the Spaniard’s position as United’s first-choice keeper. However, De Gea seems to be back to his best now.
He has made 53 saves this season, the fourth-most in the Premier League. He has also kept out two penalties, just one fewer than what all the other goalkeepers combined in the league have managed thus far this campaign.
Manchester United’s defence and defensive midfield have been poor this season, but De Gea has often made crucial saves to earn his team valuable points. That makes the Spaniard invaluable in a 5-a-side setup.
#2 Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane’s transfer was seen as the end of Manchester United’s defensive woes.
While that hasn’t been the case thus far, the Frenchman has impressed whenever he has donned the famous red jersey. Varane’s pace, defensive intelligence and ball-playing ability make him the perfect choice to feature in Manchester United’s hypothetical 5-a-side team.
Varane’s injury woes have meant that he has made just seven Premier League appearances this season. The United no.19 has been involved in a couple of clean sheets. His absence has already become worrisome for United. They lost against Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester City and Watford, with Varane out injured.
Due to their agility and creativity, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan Bissaka could have featured over Varane. The midfield and attack include players that may not help out in defence. Hence, Varane’s inclusion would be a no-brainer.
#3 Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba is one of many Manchester United players blessed with supreme on-ball ability. The Frenchman is one of the best central midfielders of his generation.
At Manchester United, he hasn’t been able to assert the same dominance as he has with France, though. That is mainly due to his frailties when tracking back and assisting his defenders.
In a 5-a-side environment, Pogba would not have to track back as much. He would be the ideal Manchester United player to link defence and attack. His passing ability, on-field presence and quick footwork would be a lethal combination. Pogba would not face much competition from his fellow Manchester United midfielders.
The Frenchman started the season on a fruitful note, racking up seven assists in a jiffy. Since then, his performances tailed off. He is currently nursing a thigh injury. However, he would look threatening in a 5-a-side arena.
#4 Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has been a revelation for Manchester United since his €63 million move from Sporting CP.
He has registered 45 goals and 34 assists in his two years at United. The Portuguese playmaker is one of the first names on the team sheet, and would be a vital cog in United’s 5-a-side lineup.
His creativity and goalscoring ability are well documented. What is not talked about enough is his work rate, though. The attacking midfielder is a willing runner who always looks to help out in defence. Although his main duty in the hypothetical 5-a-side team would be to contribute going forward, his work off-the-ball would be an added bonus.
Some would think that Jadon Sancho or Marcus Rashford merit a place in United’s 5-a-side setup, given their pace, dribbling and skill. However, Fernandes has locked down his place as one of United’s best players in the post-Ferguson era. So omitting him from their 5-a-side team would be criminal.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo
Leading the line in Manchester United’s 5-a-side team would be none other than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even at 36, Ronaldo is carrying his side over the line in league and cup competitions. The bearer of the iconic Manchester United no.7 jersey. Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer (14 goals) for his club this season.
A younger Cristiano Ronaldo would have been perfect in 5-a-side football, given the amount of tricks he would have performed. However, the Ronaldo of the 2010s is one of the most clinical strikers in the game’s history. The Portuguese would score goals for fun, even with a smaller goal in front.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 14 goals in 18 games across competitions for Manchester United this season. He has been especially prolific in the Champions League. Over the last few years, Ronaldo has become a bonafide goal-poacher.
However, he rarely contributes to build-up play. So a 5-a-side setup would only help him in this regard, as his only job would be to slot the ball into the back of the net.
