Manchester City will be determined to enter the 2024/2025 Premier League season brimming with confidence.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side have a mixed record in the FA Community Shield.
Manchester City beat Chelsea and Liverpool in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
However, Guardiola and Co. have also lost the curtain raiser ahead of the season in their last three outings against Leicester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Except when the Sky Blues beat the Reds in 2019, they have eventually managed to win the Premier League title in every other campaign under the Catalan’s regime.
As a result, the game does not have a bearing on how City will fare across all competitions but even so, elite sides always wish to win every game they partake in.
The last time both Manchester clubs faced each other in the Community Shield was in 2011.
Joleon Lescott and Edin Dzeko fired City into a 2-0 lead at half-time. However, a brace from Nani in the second half as well as Chris Smalling’s goal meant United won the game 3-2 with a last-gasp strike from the retired Portuguese winger.
As Manchester City will be hoping to finally get one over Manchester United on Saturday, there are three things to keep a close eye out on from their performance.
Especially considering Manchester City will get a chance to exact vengeance against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium once again after they lost the FA Cup final to them 2-1 in their final game of last season.
How Oscar Bobb fares against Manchester United
Steve Howey feels Oscar Bobb is set to start in the Community Shield against Manchester United — due to his “excellent” showings in pre-season and several of the senior players only just returning from their extended summer break.
It has been reported that Savinho and Jeremy Doku will have returned to the CFA — two players who would potentially have been in line for a start on the right flank.
While either of the pair could still start at Wembley, Bobb seems set to play from the off after starting every single game in pre-season for City.
If the Norwegian is handed a start, it will be interesting to see whether his form in the United States can translate against a team of Manchester United’s stature in the Community Shield.
Bobb has been a revelation in pre-season — seeming going up another gear as a player as he seems to be making the right-wing berth his own but in any Manchester Derby, it is easier said than done for attackers to perform.
The 21-year-old could potentially earn himself a start against Chelsea in Manchester City’s Premier League opener if he impresses.
A test to see how sharp Erling Haaland is
Erling Haaland had a pre-season to be optimistic about as he was scoring goals for fun, holding and linking up play extremely well and looking well-rested; signs that would have encouraged Pep Guardiola ahead of the Community Shield.
However, playing up against a potential centre-back duo of Lisandro Martinez and either Harry Maguire or Jonny Evans, Haaland will be put to the test.
Especially with a trophy on the line in a Manchester Derby clash.
While accurate predictions about how the former Borussia Dortmund striker fares in the 2024/2025 season will not emerge from his performance, how he plays will be an indicator of how sharp he looks currently.
Ultimately, Haaland was largely played against sides in the United States who were also easing their way back into action during pre-season.
Against a Manchester United side who will also be close to or fully match-fit, Guardiola will be able to closely assess how ready his star striker looks to take the Premier League by storm again.
Which returning Man City stars will play a part in the Community Shield
Alongside Savinho and Jeremy Doku, the other players who have or will have returned to the CFA by Tuesday are Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake.
After a summer break where they did not play in any matches, it will be interesting to discover which players play a part in the contest — whether that is off the bench or as starters.
Regardless, the players Pep Guardiola picks to partake in the much-awaited affair could potentially be in line for a start against Chelsea.
However, if none of the aforementioned players play any part during the game, it could be a possibility that they are not started against Enzo Maresca’s side.
Either way, Pep Guardiola’s decisions about his returning players will make for intriguing viewing.
