We chat to opposition legends and find out their most formidable sky blue team – created from the players they came up against.
Jedinak was a fan favourite at Selhurst Park during five years with the Eagles.
BIOGRAPHY
Mile Jedinak was an influential midfielder for Crystal Palace between 2011 and 2016.
Jedinak joined the Eagles on a free transfer from Turkish side Gençlerbirliği and was scouted by then-manager Dougie Freedman and first-team coach Tony Popovic, a fellow Australian.
In his time with Palace, he became a cult hero and club captain as he skippered the side back to the Premier League via the Play-Off Final of 2012/13 at Wembley.
He starred for the Eagles during the following four seasons in the top-flight, showing his courage, leadership and class in the central ground.
He skippered the team to the 2016 FA Cup final before joining Aston Villa later that summer after five years at Selhurst Park.
During his career, he played against a host of great City players.
Today, he selects ‘My Nightmare XI’ – those who he was most impressed with during his battles with the sky blues.
GOALKEEPER: JOE HART
Joe Hart would be my choice without doubt.
He epitomised the team in terms of where they were at during that period he was playing.
It was a team of men and a team that was very hungry for success.
RIGHT-BACK: PABLO ZABALETA
I’m trying to think of who my team-mates would least want to be face so I’m going for Pablo Zabaleta, who was a really fine right-back.
He was a long-serving player for the club, too, I know so I will go with him.
He never shirked anything defensively.
LEFT-BACK: ALEKSANDAR KOLAROV
I know I came up against Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov, which is a really difficult choice.
They were two excellent left-backs.
It’s a tough one. But I’d go for Kolarov.
CENTRE-BACK: VINCENT KOMPANY
It’s got to be Vincent Kompany.
He was a great centre-half, great leader of men and when I think of Manchester City winning trophies in that era, I think of Vincent Kompany.
CENTRE-BACK: JOLEON LESCOTT
I’m going to pick Joleon Lescott.
If you’re looking for me to create a team here, I’ll go with Joleon as I know he played alongside Vincent to great effect in central defence. They were a good partnership.
Joleon was a very good centre-half in his own right too, very reliable and very capable.
He was also left footed so he’d compliment Vincent in that respect too.
LEFT MIDFIELD: DAVID SILVA
When you played against him, you realised the intelligence of the player.
He was almost unmarkable!
CENTRE MIDFIELD: FERNANDINHO
He was an enforcer. He had great capacity.
He took to the game over here really fast.
He was a real leader, too, and I know he was captain for a spell which underlines his leadership credentials.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: YAYA TOURE
Yaya was such a handful.
And he had a habit (unfortunately!) of scoring against us when we played City.
Listen, he was just a powerhouse.
RIGHT MIDFIELD: KEVIN DE BRUYNE
You could quite quickly see his talent.
He has everything you need to excel in the Premier League – all-round talent.
He has a great work ethic but also an unbelievable quality when he’s on the ball.
STRIKER: SERGIO AGUERO
Sergio was someone supremely intelligent with his movement.
He was so difficult to get off the ball, too, because of his low centre of gravity.
He was incredibly strong – and, of course, a brilliant goalscorer.
STRIKER: EDIN DZEKO
I think Edin would compliment Sergio Aguero.
He had everything. He could score with his head, on the ground, linked up, could hold the ball and bring others into play.
Again, one that scored against us a few times so you’re bound to remember them a little bit more.
