Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are the only Manchester United players to feature in a combined XI with Chelsea based on statistics this season, according to data from SofaScore. The two sides meet at Old Trafford on Thursday night, with United desperately needing a win to keep their faint top-four hopes alive.
Ralf Rangnick's side sit sixth in the Premier League, six points adrift of the Champions League places having played a game more than fourth-placed Arsenal. Chelsea, meanwhile, are third with a five-point cushion over the Gunners and a game in hand.
The combined XI, compiled using SofaScore's metrics, features Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (rating 6.93) and a back four entirely made up of Blues players: Marcos Alonso (7.07), Antonio Rudiger (7.18), Thiago Silva (7.35) and Reece James (7.28). The midfield is also dominated by Chelsea's N'Golo Kante (7.10), Jorginho (7.05) and Mateo Kovacic (7.26), leaving United's Fred, Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay out.
In attack, Fernandes (7.28) and Chelsea's Mason Mount (7.37) sit behind Ronaldo (7.25), meaning Chelsea account for 82 per cent of the combined XI. The selection highlights how far United have regressed this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim boss Rangnick, having been tipped for a title challenge but now trailing leaders Manchester City by 26 points.
