Right Central Midfielder - N'Golo Kante

            Am I jumping on the N’Golo Kante love bandwagon? Oh, I am. In fact, I am a big fan. To be honest, the first time I see him playing was when Chelsea met Arsenal this season at Stamford Bridge. And for 90 minutes I could not help but shaking my head in disbelief. He was everywhere, He covered every space that could be covered, he tackled anyone that dared to cross the middle third, he chased the ball wherever it went. Now, people, if your Geography teacher ever says that 2/3 of earth is covered by water, don’t believe him, because water does not, Kante does. His performance leads to a comparison with Claude Makelele. Although they bear so many similarities, Kante is more advanced that Makelele ever was. Makelele would do whatever it took to stop you from getting into his defensive area, while Kante will hunt the ball down wherever it is. You go through the middle, Kante is there. You attack from the right side, Kante is there. You go left, he is still there. You go home, Kante… Well he might follow you home, though. I think that’s what he did to Mesut Ozil, dude has been missing this season. (Sorry, Arsenal fans).

Last season pandemonium in stands broke out every time Vardy and Mahrez performed their attacking prowess while in the title race Kante was busy pulling the Leicester chariot to the finish line. Everyone sang their praises for the dynamic duo of Leicester but it was Kante who ended up respected the most by fellow professional footballers, managers and pundits.

However, it did not make him stayed at the King Power stadium. He left to join the wounded Chelsea who had suffered an embarrassment in the previous season. Rising under the leadership of Antonio Conte, the French dynamo has been very pivotal this season for Chelsea where he partners up with Nemanja Matic. While Matic anchoring the midfield area, Kante keeps every opponent at bay.

So far I have an intelligent anchor man and a restless machine in my midfield area, it is time to meet the magician and he is….

Dream Team's Defensive Midfielder - Michael Carrick

Am I biased? Maybe. Did I hesitate? Not even a single doubt.

            Before we start talking about Carrick, there is one man that I would like to express my gratitude to, and that man is Pep Guardiola. Without him, players like Carrick (or playing in the same position of Carrick plays) probably would not get the same recognition as he does right now. As a former Regista himself, Pep has conveniently changed people’s perfection towards player like him, whether as a player or a manager. And as a manager he has catalyzed the tactics of modern football when he introduced a skinny 20 year-old kid from La Masia to Barcelona’s first team. Ever since that day, Regista or Anchor-man has been considered as the most pivotal component in a team. Busquets’ position in Barcelona is untouchable, Pirlo orchestrated Juventus’ success, Xabi Alonso has been pulling the string from midfield since at Liverpool and of course United have Mr. Underrated himself, Michael Carrick. Just like Busquets does, Carrick plays the game very simple; passes the ball, retains possession, intercepts the ball.

“Why did he make it to the team then?”

Good question, because if everything is flashy, then a flashy thing would not be so flashy with other flashy things around. Man, do I love figure of speech!

Dream Team's Center-back - Nemanja Vidic

This one is going to be long, people. So, bear with me.

            Back in my high-school years my friends and I used to play at a football field in our neighborhood. Everyone else wanted to play like Ronaldinho, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Dribbling past opponents, selfishly scoring goals and producing fancy assists (only if necessary), on the other hand, I was different. While everyone else desired to be a wizard and a prolific predator. I was busy ruining all the magic casts and preying the predators with combative actions, aggressive tackles and fearless aerial duels. Everyone else seemed to be uneasy and intimidated that until this one time my friend said, “Yo, chill man. Who are you supposed to be anyway?” I answered proudly, “Nemanja Vidic”. Ever since that moment every time we had a conversation regarding the toughest, meanest and best defenders, his name would guaranteedly always be the first one coming up to the surface.

Well, that is from regular people, what about the words from the professional? Here is a quote from Thiago Silva in 2012 when he was considered the best defender in the world at that time:

“I thank everyone who says that I’m the best. But, for me, Manchester Untied’s Nemanja Vidic is the best.”

The praises saying that a certain player is the best and the example is very classic, right? Now, I give you the quote from Robin van Persie which presumably fits Vidic the most.

“Nemanja puts his head where other players are scared to put their feet, that’s Nemanja”.

He is a traditional center-back and aggressive tackler but it is his aerial ability that would make any striker squeals and runs home to his mama. He is so great in the air that even Zeus himself would not dare to strike him.

To solidify all these arguments? He is a 2-time EPL best player and along with two other players are the ones with most awards. The other two? Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Dream Team's Center-back - John Terry

For the last 12 years Premier League have been graced with many world-class attackers, such as Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Aguero. Now, here is a question, how come a club only conceded 15 goals when the first three names mentioned were at their peaks? Or a better one yet, how is it possible for a club to concede the least for 7 seasons out of 12 seasons in the Premier League? Probably Roman Abramovich would arrogantly smile and tap the chest of his favorite captain, John Terry. It is no secret that Chelsea arguably have the strongest defense in England for the last 12 years and the former English skipper was the main actor in the ‘Rock and Reef’ drama directed by Jose Mourinho.

Dream Team's Left-back - Ashley Cole

If a winger and can score 31goals in EPL, then this player deserves to be in the conversation of “who the best player in the world is” (Cough, Cristiano Ronaldo, cough). And now if such a player is asked who is the toughest opponent he has ever faced and he answers Ashley Cole, can you imagine how special Cole is? That is the fact and that is what Ronaldo says. For years Cole has consistently played on the highest level during his time at Arsenal and Chelsea.

Dream Team's Right-back - Antonio Valencia

            Surprised? So am I! As a player whose career was in jeopardy due to the arrival of Matteo Darmian and the consistent performance from Juan Mata on the right side of the pitch and now to have established himself in the first team despite playing outside his natural position, Valencia has successfully surprised everyone. The Ecuador captain has transformed himself from a static, predictable, one-dimensional winger into a formidable force of a fullback. Strong, exceptionally quick and extraordinarily discipline, Tony V has sent a statement to everyone that his years of terrorizing the opponents’ left side has just begun (again).

*For all Phillipp Lahm, Dani Alves, Pablo Zabaleta & Dani Carvajal fans, pipe down and sit still.

Dream Team's Goalkeeper - Manuel Neuer

27 January 2011, Edwin Van der Sar declared that he will retire at the end of the season. I was stunned because he had been exceptional that season even after the announcement. The game against Arsenal in the FA Cup of which The Great Dane made several fine saves and a fantastic effort to stop Fernando Torres’ header from going in when United battling Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final are the paramount to the wonderful season Van der Sar had that season. He was also included in the PFA Team of the Year 2010-2011 for his performance throughout the campaign. Now, folks, imagine you are in love with a person and at the moment the love has reached the highest point it can ever reach and then all of a sudden he/she would say “the time has come, it has been nice being with you, adios!” Hurt? I know, right? But always remember, folks. People come and go, earth keeps rotating and Van der Sar was just a spoke on the wheel and the names to be the successor of the Dutch goalkeeper were everywhere on the news; Rui Patricio, Julio Cesar, Maarten Stekelenburg even the young upstart from Atletico Madrid, David De Gea. However, there was one name that United and the fans wanted the most, and it was Manuel Neuer.

I know what you guys are thinking right now, “14 lines until we get to see the main character. Really, man?”

Believe me, people. I could’ve gone on with 30 lines just to introduce this man which means that he is just that good. Enough with the distraction, now. So, the first time I had the chance to see Neuer was when United played Schalke at Veltins Arena. My first impression? “Holy mother! This guy is huge!” Van der Sar was taller actually but this guy had a structure of a trained soldier. Hard to picture? Well, imagine the bully from your high school who plays for your school’s AMERICAN football team (Capslock intended), now you got the perfect picture. The physique was just the warm-up impression, in the first half Neuer showed one of the most sensational performances I have ever witnessed and I can’t recall how many saves he made. Although in the second half Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney managed to find the net, still didn’t stop United and the fans wanting the German goalie to pack his bag and head to Old Trafford. Alas, Neuer departed to Bayern Muenchen, and United splashed the cash for David De Gea instead. (still one helluva bargain, though).

Who is your dream goalkeeper, though?