Krishnan Sreekumar
Shaun Wright-Phillips says Anthony Elanga the only Manchester United star to come close to getting into the Man City team
Speaking to FreeSuperTips (h/t Daily Mail), former Manchester City star Shaun Wright-Phillips has claimed that none of the current Manchester United players would be able to get into City’s team, except for Anthony Elanga, who ‘comes close’.
Admittedly, over the past decade, City have enjoyed more success than United, with Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 transforming the blue half of Manchester into world beaters and consistently winning trophies.
Wright-Phillips, who won the FA Cup with City, said that he doesn’t believe any of the Red Devils players would get into the City team – not even Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
“‘No not really. I would have said before [Cristiano] Ronaldo went off the boil that he could get into a City team.”
This season as well, City seem to have gotten the better of United as they are currently on top of the Premier League table, while the Red Devils are in fourth place. As things stand, the Cityzens could be on their way to successfully defend their league title.
“Closest is Elanga”
In yet another season of disappointment, Elanga seems to be the only bright spot at Old Trafford, with the starlet impressing everyone with his goals and attacking performances this term. 2022 has been the best year of the winger’s career so far.
Wright-Phillips said that although Elanga would not be a straight shoo-in to the City squad, the teenager comes closest among his teammates to make the cut at the Etihad Stadium.
“I haven’t seen Bruno Fernandes in the way that we have seen him in the last year, so honestly, I don’t think anyone would walk into City’s team. The only one who would be the closest is Elanga right now.”
In a season where many expected Ronaldo to take the club to new heights, it is Elanga who is turning out to be the side’s saviour. The 19-year-old seems to get better with each game, and continues to be the team’s biggest attacking threat to the opposition.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick seems to be a big fan of the Swede, with the United boss turning to the winger time and again to rescue a result for his team in games across all competitions. The forward’s stock really increased when he scored his first Champions League goal against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 tie last month.
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Wright-Phillips seems to have given a brutal assessment of the United team right before the weekend’s Manchester derby. Hopefully, we see that his comments only spur the Red Devils on to perform at their best on Sunday rather than them being deflated by his words.
The earlier derby that took place at Old Trafford last year ended 2-0 to the visitors, so Elanga and Co. will have revenge on their minds as they take to the field at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Hopefully, we see the red mist descend on the blue half of Manchester in a couple of days.
