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Combined Best XI: Manchester City vs. Stoke City

By Larry Henry

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester City at Bet365 Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester City at Bet365 Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Pedro Mba Obiang of West Ham and Gael Clichy of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on January 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Pedro Mba Obiang of West Ham and Gael Clichy of Manchester City during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on January 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Left Back – Gael Clichy

Compared to Stoke’s Erik Pieters, both him and Gael Clichy do a lot of the similar stuff for their teams. They are defensive-minded first, while they try to also get involved offensively. The edge goes to Clichy’s experience with the team and his play of late. While his fellow left-back Alex Kolarov sees time at center-back, Clichy has been fighting for starts as he returned from injury. He has done well for the team and deserves this spot over Kolarov and Pieters.