FA Cup final 2026: Cole Palmer over Rayan Cherki? Rodri alongside Moises Caicedo? Fans vote on Chelsea-Manchester City combined XI

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In the build up to the 2026 Emirates FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City, TNT Sports asked fans which players would get into a combined XI.

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Does Cole Palmer deserve a starting spot over Rayan Cherki?

Is Nico O'Reilly a better left-back than Marc Cucurella?

These were the tough decisions that supporters had to make when TNT Sports asked fans to come up with their combined XI for both clubs ahead of the Wembley showdown on Saturday.

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The fans were given the option of a 4-2-3-1 formation for the combined starting XI, but how many Chelsea players made the cut? Was it a Manchester City clean sweep?

All will be revealed in the results below.

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It might surprise a lot of people, but the player who accumulated the most votes from both sets of clubs was Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku.

The 23-year-old earned 79% of the vote and his popularity is likely down to his stunning form during the latter stages of the campaign.

Doku has delivered some huge moments for City over the last few games, including the equalising goal in the FA semi-final win over Southampton in April.

The forward also scored two stunning strikes in City's 3-3 draw at Everton - which could prove to be crucial in the Premier League title race - as well as the opening goal in last weekend's 3-0 victory over Brentford.

Doku, who has been included in Belgium's preliminary World Cup squad, has started to develop a knack of delivering the goods at Wembley in recent years after scoring in the 2024 FA Cup final defeat to rivals Manchester United.

If Doku can continue his form, Pep Guardiola and his side will have a great chance of banishing their Wembley curse and picking up their second domestic trophy at the national stadium this season, after beating Arsenal to lift the Carabao Cup in March.

The player with the second-most votes among supporters was Reece James.

The Chelsea captain was the most popular pick at the right-back position with 76% of the vote.

Chelsea fans will be hopeful that James can play an impactful role in Saturday's final after recently returning to action following a hamstring injury.

James managed to play 27 minutes last weekend as Chelsea ended a dismal run of six successive league defeats with a batting draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

No room for Palmer or Caicedo?

Incredibly, James is just one of two Chelsea players selected by the fans for the combined XI.

You're probably thinking that surely Cole Palmer takes that second spot for Chelsea? Wrong!

Chelsea's No. 10 received just 38% of the vote and was pipped by City's No. 10 Rayan Cherki.

Although the England man has struggled to find his best form this season due to injury, Palmer has already proven that he can perform in finals.

Palmer provided two assists as Chelsea fought back to defeat Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final last season before scoring a brace as the Blues defeated Paris Saint-Germain to lift the FIFA Club World Cup.

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Speaking in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports ahead of the final, Palmer acknowledged his impressive record in finals.

"That’s what the stats say," he said. "To be fair, someone sent me something the other day of the finals I have played in and what’s happened. Hopefully on Saturday it can get better.”

Palmer will be desperate to lift his first FA Cup trophy against his former club City on Saturday, but does he feel extra motivated ahead of Saturday's showdown?

”When I first left, yes because of how I left and stuff, but as I have got older and played them more and more times, it doesn’t really bother me," Palmer said.

Without Palmer in the combined team, your next thought might turn to his team-mate Moises Caicedo, who has enjoyed a fine season. Wrong again!

The midfielder only earned 31% of the vote, with fans opting for Man City's Rodri in the centre of the park.

This battle could determine where the FA Cup ends up when the referee blows the final whistle on Saturday.

Rodri has not featured for City since their league win over Arsenal last month, but Guardiola is hopeful that the Spaniard can play some part in the final.

The chance to win another major trophy with Chelsea is one of the main reasons why Caicedo decided to commit his long-term future with the club after recently signing a contract extension.

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Speaking to TNT Sports in a recent interview, you can sense that Caicedo is confident the good times will return to Stamford Bridge.

"I believe that with this team, we can do a lot of things together," he explained.

"It made me sign a new contract here because I am convinced, although we are not in a very good moment, we will come back and put Chelsea where it belongs.

"I am so convinced I am not going to change, because the only way to do it is believing."

So if Palmer and Caicedo missed out, who is the remaining Chelsea player voted by the fans?

Check the results in the graphic below.

Chelsea-Man City Combined XI voted by fans

FA Cup final combined XI fan vote.

Image credit: TNT Sports

Do you agree with the fan vote?

Do you agree with the FA Cup final combined XI from the fans? Vote below here:

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