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The Fantasy Football Club: Ricky Hatton picks his #One2Eleven

Ricky Hatton

Former boxer and huge Man City fan Ricky Hatton, who boxed both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, picks his best City XI.

Mayweather takes on Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas live on Sky Sports Box Office in the early hours of Sunday morning and former world champion Hatton took the opportunity to name his #One2Eleven on The Fantasy Football Club.

The die-hard City fan has opted for a 4-4-2 diamond formation...

Goalkeeper: Tony Coton

He was good at crosses. He was a good shot-stopper. The form he was in at the time, Graham Taylor should have picked him for England – most definitely. He was the best goalkeeper in the top flight at that time and it was crying shame he never got an England cap.

Right Back: Pablo Zabaleta

Sometimes full-backs, or wing-backs as they’re called now, can be exciting to watch, flying down the wing and all that. Bu I think the key to a good full-back is someone that is no nonsense, scares the winger, doesn’t give the ball away and that’s what Pablo Zabaleta is. 

Left Back: Andy Hinchcliffe

He was a solid, solid, left-back. Good tackler, very rarely give the ball away and he could always bang one in. He was my favourite left-back.

Vincent Kompany
Image: Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League trophy

Centre Back: Vincent Kompany

He became the first ever Manchester City captain to lift a trophy in 35 years. He’s a great leader. He’s a great speaker and leads by example. In the last three years he’s been the best centre-half in the Premier League. 

Centre-Back: Keith Curle

He was a great player to watch. Brilliant on the floor and very skilful for a defender. You used to have your heart in your mouth when watching him as Keith Curle always wanted to take that extra touch. Instead of getting simple he would always try and take a player on. It was exciting for the spectators but it would give you nightmares. He was such a gifted player. I can imagine Kompany winning all the high balls and Curle sweeping up.

Right Midfield: Colin Bell

He was a midfielder/winger and will go down in history as Manchester City’s greatest ever player. I never had the fortune of seeing him play live but I’ve watched all the footage and he was different class.

Left Midfield: Georgi Kinkladze

He was the best player I have ever seen play live. He was a little bit inconsistent as he’d have three bad games but when he had a good game, he was unbelievable when running at defenders. He would pick the ball up and go past three or four players. As a City fan you would edge that bit further forward in your seat. You just knew something was going to happen. He was a very special player and probably never fulfilled his potential.

Centre Midfield: Paul Lake

His career was cut short because of injury and if you look at him in football terms today he would be worth minimum £20-25m. It was a great shame. He was a player that could have gone on to play at the highest level, worn an England shirt and achieved so much. He still does a lot for the club and will always have a lot of sympathy in City fans' hearts.

Centre Midfield: Franny Lee

He could play just off the centre-forward in an attacking midfield role. He could come short, hold the ball up well and was very strong. He wore his heart on his sleeve. That was proven by the fact he bought the club a few years after he retired. He will go down as one of the best players City have ever had.

Shaun Goater Manchester City
Image: Ricky Hatton fondly remembers Shaun Goater's goal in the Manchester derby

Striker: Shaun Goater

He just knew where the back of that net was. You’d think ‘how can his touch be so bad?' but all of a sudden the ball would fly over his head and he’d leather it in the top corner. That’s something you can’t teach. The one goal that stands out for me was in the Manchester derby. United fans will hate me for this! When Gary Neville went to play the ball out and miskicked it and Goater scored from the narrowest of angles.  

Striker: Niall Quinn

What was he? Six-foot three? Six-foot four? He was always great in the air but never got the credit he deserved for his play on the floor. You wouldn’t see a better sight in football than a ball being knocked 40 yards being brought down by Niall Quinn and him laying it off. He was as good in the air as he was on the floor. It was very unusual for a player that was so lanky.

Book Mayweather v Pacquiao, Sky Sports Box Office, May 2, via your Sky remote, phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote. skysports.com/maypac

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