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    Man Utd’s legends of 99 and City treble-chasers combined XI with De Bruyne, Scholes and Beckham

    MANCHESTER CITY are ready for their date with destiny and the chance to win a historic treble.Pep Guardiola’s side meet Inter Milan in the Champions League final, ready to match their great city rivals.

    They have the chance to add that illustrious piece of silverware to the Premier League and the FA Cup to cap a truly memorable season.
    United, of course, became the first English side to ever win the Treble in the 1998-99 season.
    Both teams were riddled with stars, and of course were led by two of the greatest managers the Beautiful Game has ever seen in Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola.
    But who makes a combined XI from the history-making line-ups?
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    Choosing the goalkeeper was one of the hardest decisions.
    The role of the stopper back then was a different ball-game, literally. It wasn’t about passing it around back and forth with the defence and more about clearing the lines.
    Both Peter Schmeichel and Ederson are as commanding as you like between the sticks – but both bring other skills to to the job.
    For his leadership, defensive organisation and supreme arm strength, the great Dane gets the vote.
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    Pep Guardiola is certainly following in the footsteps of Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Getty
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    There is nothing easier on the eye than attacking football – which has led us to go for a 3-4-3 formation.
    United legend Jaap Stam is joined at the back by City pair Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker.
    Stam took no prisoners, was a beast in the air and deceptively quick for a big man.
    Dias was heralded when City snapped him up – and he has lived up to the promise. He is one of the coolest defenders in the Prem.
    And Walker, who if anything still appears under-rated in some quarters, will not be beaten in a foot race and has strength in abundance.
    Sir Alex Ferguson won the Treble in 1998-99Credit: Rex Features
    The midfield three is almost as lip-licking as the forward line.
    Rodri will be the lynchpin. The Spaniard was signed by Guardiola as Fernandinho’s long-term replacement. He has really come into his own since the Brazilian departed the Etihad.
    Paul Scholes sits just ahead Rodri to provide those defence-splitting passes for the fearsome forward line.
    Sure to pull the fans in, David Beckham bags a spot on the flank. His sumptuous crossing and free-kick ability will have the strikers frothing at the mouth.
    On the other side is Kevin De Bruyne. Him and Becks can fight for the ball for free-kicks and corners.
    The final third is enough to strike fear into every defender.
    Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole were lethal for UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Erling Haaland has smashed the Premier League to smithereens this seasonCredit: Alamy
    Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole just cannot be separated. They worked in perfect tandem for treble-winning United, keeping the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham out.
    And he may have only played one Premier League season, but Erling Haaland just has to be in the team.
    With Cole one side of him and Yorke the other – goals scored could be even more obscene than his 52 scored since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.
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    The likes of Ryan Giggs, Ederson, Denis Irwin, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva would make most teams – but not this one. More

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    Where Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League winners are now from property developer to Sky Sports icon

    LIVERPOOL fans are still toasting their Champions League win over Tottenham in 2019.But even the most ardent Anfield supporter will admit it pales in comparison to 2005’s Istanbul comeback against AC Milan.
    Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League comeback against AC Milan remains legendaryCredit: PA:Press Association
    What happened to the stars who brought European glory to Merseyside?Credit: PA:Press Association
    Liverpool’s starting XI from that famous night in Istanbul
    Led by Rafa Benitez, the Reds lined up against one of the greatest club sides in European history.
    A backline of Dida, Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini made for a rock-solid defence.
    And a midfield four of Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka remains one of the best in the business.
    Milan also boasted a fearsome frontline of Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo.
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    And the Italians made their dominance show by storming into a 3-0 lead at half-time.
    However, Liverpool produced the greatest comeback in football history to level the score at 3-3 by the 61st minute.
    The two sides then played out extra time before going to penalties.
    And it was the Reds who emerged victorious, with Milan missing three of their five efforts.
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    But what became of 2005’s heroes? And where are they today?
    SunSport reveals all below…
    GK — JERZY DUDEK
    Jerzy Dudek works as a Uefa ambassador promoting the Champions LeagueCredit: EPA
    Polish ace, 50, saved two penalties in the shootout and remains iconic thanks to distracting Milan with his “spaghetti legs.”
    He spent four years at Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool in 2007.
    Dudek raced in the Volkswagen Castrol Cup in 2014, and he is now promotes the Champions League as an ambassador for Uefa.
    RB — STEVE FINNAN
    Steve Finnan flogged his winner medal after his company racked up huge debtsCredit: PA:Press Association
    Irish defender, 47, played for Espanyol and Portsmouth after leaving Anfield.
    He retired in 2010 and moved into business ventures, setting up a property development company in London.
    But in 2020 it was revealed the company had gone into liquidation, with Finnan auctioning off his winner medal after racking up £3.6million-worth of debt.
    CB — JAMIE CARRAGHER
    Jamie Carragher works as a pundit for Sky Sports and CBSCredit: Getty
    Popular centre-back, 45, was still playing for Reds up until 2013.
    He has now made a name for himself as a pundit on Sky Sports and CBS.
    And Carragher isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers either, even calling out Man United legend Rio Ferdinand recently.
    CB — SAMI HYYPIA
    Sami Hyypia had a brief stint as Brighton managerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Finnish favourite, 49, finished his career at Bayer Leverkusen after leaving Anfield in 2009.
    Hyypia went on to manage the Germans, as well as Brighton and Zurich.
    But he is now without a club after serving as FC Haka assistant until 2020.
    LB — DJIMI TRAORE
    Djimi Traore was a coach at Seattle Sounders in the MLSCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Left-back, 43, was shipped off by Liverpool just a year after Champions League win.
    He spent time at numerous clubs like Charlton, Portsmouth and Birmingham before eventually settling at Seattle Sounders.
    Traore worked as No2 with the American side until 2021, and he is currently a coach for the Right To Dream Academy in Ghana.
    RM — LUIS GARCIA
    Luis Garcia is an analyst after retiring in AustraliaCredit: Reuters
    Silky Spaniard, 44, already had a reputation before joining Liverpool after time at Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
    He returned to Atleti after leaving Liverpool in 2007 and retired nine years later with Australian side Central Coast Mariners.
    Garcia did not move into coaching but occasionally works as an analyst for ESPN.
    CM — XABI ALONSO
    Xabi Alonso is boss of German giants Bayer LeverkusenCredit: Reuters
    Playmaker, 41, scored third against Milan before going from strength to strength after Liverpool with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
    He added another Champions League and four league titles to his collection, as well as two Euros and a World Cup with Spain.
    And Alonso, previously linked with Tottenham, is now coaching at the highest level after taking charge at Bayer Leverkusen in October.
    CM — STEVEN GERRARD
    Steven Gerrard could be in line to take charge at LeedsCredit: PA
    Legendary midfielder, 43, scored first against Milan and remained a Liverpool man until 2015 before retiring at LA Galaxy.
    He went into management, winning the Scottish title with Rangers before joining Aston Villa.
    Gerrard was sacked by the Midlands club in October and SunSport understands he is now in contention for the Leeds job.
    LM — JOHN ARNE RIISE
    John Arne Riise manages a women’s team in NorwayCredit: Getty
    Norwegian wide-man, 42, played up until 2017 after further spells with Roma and Fulham.
    He moved into management with Flint Tonsberg in 2019.
    And Riise is now in charge of women’s football team Avaldsnes in Norway.
    AM — HARRY KEWELL
    Celtic coach Harry Kewell could follow Ange Postecoglu to SpursCredit: Getty
    Aussie forward, 44, was injured 23 minutes into final and went on to play for Galatasaray and Melbourne Victory.
    Went into management with Crawley Town before spells at Notts County, Oldham and Barnet.
    Is now a coach at Celtic and could follow compatriot Ange Postecoglu to Tottenham.
    ST — MILAN BAROS
    Milan Baros is still playing football at amateur levelCredit: Getty
    Striker, 41, left Liverpool immediately after triumph before spells at Lyon, Portsmouth and Galatasaray.
    Baros then went through six clubs in as many years, taking him from the Czech Republic to Turkey.
    And incredibly, he is still playing at amateur level for minnows FK Vigantice.
    FIRST SUB — VLADIMIR SMICER (23’)
    Vladimir Smicer stood for European Parliament nine years agoCredit: Getty
    The first sub in Istanbul, 50-year-old Smicer scored Liverpool’s second against Milan.
    He went on to play for Bordeaux and Slavia Prague before retiring in 2009.
    Smicer, now a Uefa ambassador, then tried coaching before unsuccessfully standing for European Parliament for Czech party VIZE in 2014.
    SECOND SUB — DIDI HAMANN (46’)
    Pundit Didi Hamann clashed with Liverpool boss Jurgen KloppCredit: Getty
    Subbed on at half-time in final for Finnan, 49-year-old Hamann left Liverpool for Man City before ending career in 2011 with MK Dons.
    He coached the minnows and Leicester before a brief spell as Stockport boss.
    Hamann is now a pundit and famously clashed with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp earlier this season.
    THIRD SUB — DJIBRIL CISSE (85’)
    Djibril Cisse is a part-time model and plays in Gerard Pique’s new leagueCredit: Getty
    Coming on for Baros in Istanbul, 41-year-old Cisse played for likes of Marseille and Sunderland after leaving Liverpool in 2007.
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    He now plays in Gerard Pique’s Kings League for Los Troncos FC and is a part-time model.
    Cisse also enjoyed TV appearances in France, featuring on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘Mask Singer’. More

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    Security fears over Champions League final as Man City fans told to arrive at stadium NINE HOURS before kick-off

    MANCHESTER CITY fans have been told to arrive NINE HOURS early for Saturday’s Champions League final.Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Istanbul to take on Inter Milan, aiming to win their first ever Champions League crown.
    Manchester City fans will travel to Istanbul in numbers this weekendCredit: Getty
    Preparations are well underway at Ataturk StadiumCredit: PA
    City will be well backed by supporters flocking to Turkey this weekend, with authorities keen to avoid the distressing scenes that occurred at last year’s final.
    Ticketing issues and errors by heavy-handed cops at last year’s Paris final endangered Liverpool supporters in attendance.
    After initially trying to dodge the blame, Uefa chiefs eventually launched a review into the ticket chaos, and have new recommendations for this season’s showpiece event.
    Talks have been held between Uefa and local cops, with the former believing that some elements of the policing may be beyond their control.
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    Uefa have managed to get a U-turn on initially proposed bans for items such as rainbow flags and clothing featuring the word “ultra”.
    But fans are still being recommended to arrive nine hours early for the game, which kicks off at 10pm local time.
    Ataturk Stadium, where Liverpool famously won their fifth Champions League in 2005, is situated more than an hour west of Istanbul city centre.
    It is served by a metro station, but Uefa chiefs are urging fans to board shuttle buses at 1pm instead.
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    Istanbul has been getting prepared for Saturday’s big matchCredit: PA
    Fans will have to pass through three security checkpoints as they enter the stadiumCredit: PA
    Giant Champions League trophy in the centre of IstanbulCredit: PA
    Once at the stadium, ticket holders will be invited to join a fanzone opening at 2pm – where food and beer will be on sale.
    Fans will have to pass through THREE separate security checkpoints before entering the ground.
    The first will require their phone bluetooth to be switched on as tickets are activated.
    They will then be searched twice – once by police and a further time by a private security firm.
    Metro trains are expected to stop running at 11:50pm – although shuttle buses back into the city centre will be put on until 3am.
    No booze will be available to fans once inside the stadium, although the fan park will reopen for a short period after the match.
    Fan group Football Supporters’ Europe have been working hard to ensure that there is no repeat of last year’s Uefa farce.
    Ahead of this weekend’s final, their chief operating officer Niamh O’Mahony said: “Since last year’s final in Paris and also the review recommendations, we’ve seen a significant change in how Uefa works with us to prepare for the finals this year.
    “FSE was part of a pre-final site visit, been able to hear plans, and give advice on how best to approach certain scenarios.
    “That doesn’t mean all of our advice is being taken on board but it is considered, and that is an important change.
    Read more on The Sun
    “FSE’s role is to constructively challenge the planning so that supporters in Istanbul can enjoy their trip and all the effort into planning will be worth it.
    “Of course, we’ll have to wait and see what happens now but a huge amount of preparation has been happening.”
    Police errors led to distressing scenes at last year’s finalCredit: AFP More

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    Meet the Fake footballer who conned Champions League side CSKA Sofia into offering him a £15k-a-month deal

    A FAKE footballer revealed how he convinced a Champions League club to offer him a £15,000-a-month contract.Frenchman Gregoire Akcelrod, now 40, sent out a fake CV and created a website filled with made-up match reports in a bid to fool some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
    Akcelrod played for PSG’s fifth tier amateur side but pretended he was a professional player for their senior team
    Akcelrod also utilised the fact that he played for Paris Saint-Germain’s amateur side – a level of football he describes as the “worst in France” – to fool other teams.
    And after receiving trial offers from Norwich, Bournemouth, and Swindon, he eventually attracted the attention of then-Champions League side CSKA Sofia in 2009.
    With the Bulgarian club believing he was a PSG reserve team player, a deal looked set to go through before it was scuppered in the final stages when some discrepancies were detected by fans.
    Speaking to The Mail in 2021, he said: “I did the two day trial and on the Sunday the coach told my agent that he wanted to sign me.
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    “They took photos of me in the CSKA official jersey, I signed the contract, they published on the CSKA website that I was signing.
    “But it was the PSG fans who destroyed me. Overnight, one CSKA Sofia fan contacted a PSG online forum and asked, ‘We are about to sign Greg Akcelrod, what do you think about him?’
    “All the PSG fans didn’t know me. They said I was fake, they checked my website. But some of it was true, the video at Swindon for example.
    “The CSKA fan contacted every journalist in Sofia and it was revealed the club were going to sign a fake player.”
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    After the secret was out, Akcelrod was told to head back to France, but that did not stop him pursuing a career in football.
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    He went on to play in Greece and Kuwait, as well as for top tier Canadian team Mississauga Eagles.
    Akcelrod is not the first prankster to fool a top football club.
    The most famous example is Ali Dia back in the 1990s, who conned Southampton and manager Graeme Souness into agreeing a one-month deal.
    Dia signed for the Saints in 1996 after Souness was contacted by someone claiming to be World Player of the Year George Weah.
    He recommended that Southampton sign his ‘cousin’ Dia, who had allegedly played and scored for PSG and Senegal.
    Dia featured in one five-a-side trial and the next day faced Leeds United in a 2-0 defeat.
    He never made a second appearance for Southampton.
    Akcelrod managed to fool an elite European club into believing he was a real player More

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    Champions League winner is completely unrecognisable 25 years after lifting the cup and now boasts a ripped body

    THIS former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid ace looks amazing for 48-years-old.Back in 1998, the ex-Brazilian international was a Champions League winner with the Spanish giants.
    Can you guess who this former Brazil international is?
    He’s bulked up since his playing days
    He won 85 caps for his countryCredit: Instagram zr11
    He regularly uploads fitness videosCredit: Instagram zr11
    He won five major European league titlesCredit: Instagram zr11
    During his illustrious playing days, he won two Copa Americas and finished runner-up at the 1998 World Cup.
    The versatile left-back-turned-midfielder made 85 Brazil appearances and scored six times for his country.
    He lifted one LaLiga and the Champions League with Real.
    He also claimed four Bundesliga titles in six years at Bayern spread over two stints in Germany.
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    But can you guess who it is?
    It is, of course, ex-midfielder Ze Roberto who enjoyed a stellar career as a player.
    However, he never looked this buff and has clearly been working out religiously since retiring from the game in 2017.
    He has since stunned fans on social media, showing off his hench body transformation akin to a bodybuilder.
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    The Samba star uploaded an Instagram video of himself during a training session in the park during the Covid lockdown.
    Now a personal trainer, he gave an insight into how he was able to outlast so many of his former team-mates.
    He told local media in the past: “I have no vices. I don’t drink alcoholic beverages, I don’t smoke, I eat very well, I sleep well.
    “I have my family, which is my greatest security.
    “I think those are important factors to reach the age I reached and still continue playing at a high level.”
    And back in 2020 he even claimed he has a better physique than the ripped Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
    He told TyC Sports: “Today I would say that I have a better physique, because I played until I was 43-years-old.
    “If he does [play until then], I will say it is him.”
    Although with Ronaldo revealing he plans to keep playing into his 40s Ze Roberto may well be forced into making the admission.
    That’s of course former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid ace Ze RobertoCredit: Instagram /@fcbayern
    Ze Roberto claims he even has a better physique than Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Instagram / @cristiano
    Ze Roberto pictured in action for Brazil at the 2006 World Cup
    In 1997 Ze Roberto was playing for Real Madrid More

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    West Ham’s Europa Conference League win is bad news for Man City’s Treble hunt as terrible omen revealed

    WEST HAM’S Europa Conference League triumph has thrown up a bad omen for Manchester City.David Moyes’ men clinched the Hammers’ first major trophy in 43 years on Wednesday evening after they beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague.
    West Ham won the Europa Conference League trophy on Wednesday eveningCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    The Hammers’ triumph has brought to light a stat that Man City fans will not want to seeCredit: EPA
    The victory was a historic one for the East London outfit, but has foreshadowed an ominous stat for Pep Guardiola’s side.
    The last time West Ham claimed a European trophy was in the 1964/65 season.
    That was the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup after they beat 1860 Munich in the final.
    In the same campaign, Inter Milan claimed the European Cup for the second successive year.
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    Man City face Inter in the Champions League final on Saturday.
    And the omen from 58 years ago does not bode well for the Premier League winners.
    Man City are seeking to win Europe’s premier competition for the first time in their history.
    Yet despite not having won it before, they head into the clash with Inter as the overwhelming favourites.
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    And if they manage to clinch victory, they will become just the second English side to secure the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League Treble.
    Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United achieved the feat in 1999, but it has not been completed since.

    Man City moved one step closer to the Treble by beating local rivals United in the FA Cup on Saturday – winning 2-1 at Wembley.
    They had already scooped a third successive Premier League title and fifth in six years earlier this month. More

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    Man Utd legend Peter Schmeichel claims a Champions League club were on verge of signing son Kasper back in January

    PETER SCHMEICHEL has claimed that his son, Kasper, was on the verge of joining Bayern Munich.The Manchester United legend revealed the information during an appearance on live television.
    Kasper Schmeichel almost left Nice last JanuaryCredit: Reuters
    His father Peter Schmeichel revealed he was in talks with Bayern MunichCredit: .
    Speaking ahead of Bayern’s Champions League clash against PSG back in March, Peter told CBS Sports Golazo “It could have been my son [playing against PSG].
    “On they very same day that they signed [Yann] Sommer they were also in talks with my son.”
    Bayern were in the market for a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window following an injury to Manuel Neuer.
    It seems as though their options were dwindled down to two, Yann Sommer and Kasper Schmeichel.
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    In the end, the Bundesliga giants opted for the Borussia Mönchengladbach stopper over the former Leicester City star.
    This meant that Schmeichel would see out the season with Ligue 1 side Nice, along with other former Premier League stars such as Ross Barkley and Aaron Ramsey.
    While Sommer played his part in Bayern’s 1-0 victory over PSG at the Parc des Princes.
    After a poor start in France, Nice and Schmeichel finished the season in the top half of the table in ninth. The shotstopper recorded 11 clean sheets and the team only conceded 32 goals, making them the second meanest defence in Ligue 1.
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    However, the 36-year-old hasn’t made many friends in France – because of his reported training regime away from the rest of his team-mates.
    Schmeichel, who only joined the club last summer, could be set to move again – with L’Equipe saying his team-mates are also frustrated with his lack of leadership. More

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    Chelsea’s greatest EVER XI named by artificial intelligence with Premier League flop boss and no-nonsense right back

    CHELSEA’S greatest EVER starting XI has been revealed by artificial intelligence.The Blues endured their worst-ever Premier League season following Todd Boehly’s takeover, but have a cabinet full of trophies to look back on and remind them of better times.
    AI has named Chelsea’s greatest ever xiCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Including names such as Eden HazardCredit: Getty
    Numerous club legends have emerged from those victories, and now Perplexity AI has named the best of the bunch.
    In goal is Petr Cech, arguably the best goalkeeper the Premier League has ever seen.
    The 41-year-old made 494 appearances for Chelsea, helping to win four Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League.
    The first star in the defence in front of him is Serbian bruiser Branislav Ivanovic.
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    The three-time Premier League winner made 377 appearances for the club, being famed for his no-nonsense approach to defending.
    At the core of the defence, the first is a star who exemplified the art of defending in former captain John Terry.
    After emerging through the Blues youth team, the Englishman enjoyed a trophy-laden 17-year career at Stamford Bridge.
    His successes included five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and lifting the Champions and Europa League across 715 appearances.
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    Partnering him is French World Cup winner Marcel Desailly.
    The former Milan and Marseille star played at Chelsea for six years, appearing in 221 games and winning four trophies.
    Completing the defence is Ashley Cole, who joined from Arsenal in 2006 and went on to make 337 appearances over his eight years at Stamford Bridge.
    In midfield, Claude Makelele partners Frank Lampard for a rekindling of the 2005 team which conceded just 15 goals to see Chelsea lift their first Prem title.
    Lampard was one of the poster boys of the Roman Abramovich era as a player, but did not have a great time as a manager in either of his spells.
    Luckily his legacy as a player remains intact, following 648 appearances for the club and netting a club-record 211 goals, all the while winning 13 trophies.
    Meanwhile, Makelele was with Chelsea for five years, helping the club win back-to-back league titles in 2005 and 2006.
    The xi includes stars such as Gianfranco ZolaCredit: Alamy
    Blues legend Peter Osgood was immortalised in a statue outside of Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    On the wings for this team are Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard.
    Between them, the pair played 662 games and netting 188 goals in that time.
    Zola won the club’s Player of the Year award in 1999 and 2003, with Hazard doubling this haul with his four wins in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
    Up front, Didier Drogba is paired with Peter Osgood – the only name from before the Premier League era to make it.
    The former was a final specialist, putting in starring performances to help the club win its first Champions League and a number of FA Cups.
    His 164 goals put him fourth in the club’s all-time scorer rankings.
    Read more on The Sun
    Osgood was a star who came far before his listed team-mates as he played for the Blues throughout the 1960s.
    And his tally of 150 strikes put him joint fifth in the standings. More