Wembley Stadium will host the annual English football curtain-raiser this Saturday afternoon as Manchester City and Manchester United clash for the 102nd Community Shield. Last season, Erik ten Hag's Manchester United lifted the FA Cup, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
It’s been nearly 11 weeks since United stunned City with a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup final, claiming the trophy for the 13th time and denying their rivals a domestic double.
Despite a disappointing Premier League season that saw them finish eighth, United's inspired performance in the FA Cup brought them silverware for the second year in a row under Ten Hag. The manager, who faced intense scrutiny and speculation about his future, has since signed a new contract through 2026.
Manchester United's FA Cup win also secured them a spot in next season's Europa League. The club, now under the ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, is looking forward to a fresh start. The new era has seen positive changes, including summer signings like Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, as they aim to restore glory to Old Trafford.
United had a mixed pre-season, with two wins and three losses from their five friendly matches, concluding their U.S. tour with a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool last Sunday. While Ten Hag and his squad are preparing for their Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16, they first turn their focus to this weekend’s clash with City, aiming to win the Community Shield for a record 22nd time.
This Saturday will mark United’s 31st appearance in the Community Shield and their first since 2016 under former manager Jose Mourinho. The Red Devils have won 21 of their previous 30 finals, including a memorable 3-2 victory over City in 2011.
Last season, Manchester City couldn't quite replicate their incredible 2023 treble, which included winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. However, they still made history by becoming the first English top-flight club to secure four consecutive Premier League titles.
Arsenal pushed City to the limit in the title race, which went down to the final day. But the reigning champions ultimately prevailed, amassing 91 points and losing only three games in another unforgettable 38-game season.
Now, City has their sights set on a seventh Premier League title in eight seasons, as Pep Guardiola embarks on what could be his ninth and final year as manager. But first, they’ll be looking for revenge against Manchester United as they aim to win their seventh Community Shield on Saturday.
City wrapped up their pre-season tour of the United States on August 3 with a 4-2 win over Chelsea, who coincidentally will be their opponents on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick in that match, helping City secure their first friendly victory after earlier draws against Celtic, AC Milan, and Barcelona.
It's been tough to draw conclusions from City's pre-season, as several key players were absent. However, some of them could return just in time for Saturday's game, where Guardiola's side will be keen to avoid losing the Community Shield for the fourth straight year. Interestingly, Manchester United was the last team to lose four consecutive Community Shield finals, between 1998 and 2001.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Manchester City might be without goalkeeper Ederson for their upcoming match after he missed the friendly against Chelsea due to some minor injuries. If he's not fit to play, Stefan Ortega is likely to step in as the starting goalkeeper. Meanwhile, left-back Josh Wilson-Esbrand is expected to be sidelined after picking up a hamstring injury in the same match.
Several key players, including Euro 2024 finalists Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and John Stones, have yet to return to first-team training, making them unlikely to be available for the game against Manchester United.
However, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Matheus Nunes, and new summer signing Savio have all participated in training this week and are expected to be part of the matchday squad. Additionally, young talents James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly might also be included.
On the Manchester United side, Leny Yoro (foot), Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are all out with injuries. Manager Erik ten Hag has also mentioned that defenders Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Luke Shaw are doubtful and will be assessed closer to kickoff.
Jonny Evans, who was taken off during the friendly against Liverpool due to illness, is expected to recover in time for the match and could partner with Lisandro Martinez in central defense. If Shaw is unable to play, 17-year-old Harry Amass might retain his spot at left-back.
As for the attack, new signing Joshua Zirkzee has been in training this week and could make his Manchester United debut. However, it's unclear whether he'll start ahead of Jadon Sancho, who has played as a center-forward in the last two friendlies.
POSSIBLE LINE UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, De Bruyne; Bobb, Bernardo, Grealish; Haaland
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Dalot, Evans, Martinez, Amass; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Manchester City 3-2 Manchester United
Even though both Manchester United and Manchester City had high-scoring friendlies this summer, Ten Hag and Guardiola might opt for a more cautious strategy in Saturday's match to prevent any additional injuries before the new season begins.
Historically, City has only won six of their last 15 Community Shield appearances. However, they have dominated recent Manchester derbies, winning seven of the last 10 encounters across all competitions. Given this track record, it seems likely that City will find a way to secure a victory at Wembley.
