FA Cup Team of the Week – Quarter-final XI | OneFootball

FA Cup Team of the Week – Quarter-finals:

An incredible weekend of FA Cup action saw Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Coventry City book their place in the semi-finals. Following the quarter-final action, we’ve selected our FA Cup Team of the Week.

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana – Manchester United

Onana might have conceded three goals but he kept Manchester United alive in the tie, making several big stops as Liverpool upped the pressure at Old Trafford.

Two deflections caught out the Cameroonian for Liverpool’s first and third goals, while he will perhaps be disappointed with a flat-footed backline after his parry from Darwin Nunez’s fierce effort fell for Mohamed Salah to convert.

Eight saves, including five from inside the box, and four high claims show his important involvement, however, and there’s little doubt the 27-year-old is growing at Manchester United after a shaky start.

Right-back: Malo Gusto – Chelsea

Another encouraging performance from the Chelsea forward, whose forward threat has impressed in recent weeks. The Frenchman earned the man-of-the-match honours during his side’s win over Leicester, following another outing full of attacking intent.

This season, Gusto leads all right-backs in the Premier League for crosses and key passes per 90 minutes. He has stepped in to shine in the absence of Reece James.

Centre-back: Manuel Akanji – Manchester City

Cruise control from the Switzerland centre-back, who barely misplaced a pass or lost a defensive duel all evening against Newcastle. Anticipated well when Newcastle threatened and largely kept Alexander Isak quiet at the Etihad, while using the ball effectively from deep with a 93.5% pass completion. Confident and classy again from Akanji.

Centre-back: Bobby Thomas – Coventry

Alert to intercept danger as Coventry got on top of Wolves early on at Molineux, with Thomas dealing with the threat of the inexperienced Nathan Fraser in the opposition attack.

He won 6/8 aerial duels and made five clearances, three tackles and three interceptions while glancing a header across goal for Ellis Simms to equalise in stoppage time. The centre-back can look forward to a big day out at Wembley next month.

Left-back: Rayan Ait-Nouri – Wolves

On the losing side, but not for the want of trying. Ait-Nouri looked Wolves’ likeliest avenue back into the game against Coventry and so it proved, as the wing-back volleyed in an equaliser before setting up Hugo Bueno for a second with a surging run forward and threaded pass.

Coventry’s stunning stoppage-time fightback will overshadow his influence, but this was an excellent performance from the Algerian. A threat all game with his sheer desire to power forward into advanced areas of the pitch.

Midfield: Mateo Kovacic – Manchester City

An audition passed for greater opportunity in the Manchester City midfield, Mateo Kovacic returned to the starting side against Newcastle and produced one of his best performances for the Citizens.

The Croatian’s ability to evade pressure and carry the ball through lines is hugely effective, while he offers mobility in a deeper role to complement Rodri. City were in complete control for much of the contest against Newcastle and the move to a double pivot in the engine room was a key reason for that. Guardiola will have taken note, ahead of some huge fixtures on the horizon.

Midfield: Kobbie Mainoo – Manchester United

Arguably the best player on the pitch in the first half of Manchester United’s 4-3 win over Liverpool, with the teenager offering calm and quick feet in tight areas of the pitch.

Gareth Southgate deemed this month’s England squad as too soon for the 18-year-old, but an international call-up cannot be far away given how Mainoo has handled the pressure of big games against top opposition.

Faded somewhat before his substitution, but this was another example of the kid’s quality. Manchester United have a gem on their hands.

Midfield: Bernardo Silva – Manchester City

Manchester City’s match-winner, albeit with two slices of luck. Silva’s deflected double earned the holders a place in the semi-finals, with fortune favouring the Portuguese playmaker as he netted a first-half brace against Newcastle.

His goals were reward for a performance littered with moments of quality, as Newcastle were punished for allowing him the space to operate.

Right-wing: Cole Palmer – Chelsea

Another Cole Palmer performance full of quality, with two classy moments from the Chelsea man ensuring safe passage to the FA Cup semi-finals. Palmer scored his 14th goal of the season for the west Londoners with a convincing conversion from Raheem Sterling’s cut-back, before setting up Carney Chukwuemeka for the winner with an inventive back-heel.

Should have called rank on Sterling for the missed penalty and a second-half free-kick, though performances of this ilk are only adding to his main man status at Stamford Bridge.

Left-wing: Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United

Electric.

Alejandro Garnacho’s infectious style has made him a fan favourite at Manchester United and an influential performance against Liverpool will only add to that status. The Argentine never stopped throughout 120 gruelling minutes at Old Trafford, offering threat down both flanks and covering defensively as an unbalanced Manchester United side fought back into the game.

He was involved in three of the four goals, including leading the breakaway for Amad Diallo’s 120th-minute winner. Worked his socks off – and Erik ten Hag will be grateful to have him.

Forward: Ellis Simms – Coventry

Ellis Simms has exploded as a Coventry City player in recent weeks and took his total to 10 goals in his last eight appearances with a double to down Wolves this weekend.

Simms – who scored a hat-trick in the fifth-round win over Maidstone United – bounced back from a glaring early miss to open the scoring as he bundled in from close range.

The 23-year-old’s second arrived in stoppage time to equalise after Wolves had turned the game around, nodding in at the back post. There was still time for Simms to set up Haji Wright’s 100th-minute winner, as Coventry stunned their Midlands rivals to reach the semi-finals.

Goals aside, he worked tirelessly to lead the line and made several important defensive contributions when returning to his box for set-pieces.

Read – FA Cup Awards: Old Trafford epic and superb Simms

See more – Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 29

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