Manchester City Vs Manchester United: Unseeded Again In Community Shield

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo celebrated a goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City last season. (X/@ManUtd)

JAKARTA - Manchester Unted faced a storm of player injuries against Manchester City in the Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium, London, Saturday, August 10, 2024 evening WIB. This makes MU the winner of the FA Cup again unseeded against the defending champions of the English Premier League.

The pre-season tour that brought disaster to MU. Not only that, MU also reaped unsatisfactory results. They had to admit Arsenal's lead 2-1 and then lost 3-0 against Liverpool. MU only won over Rangers (2-0) and Real Betis (3-2).

Manager Erik ten Hag could not maximize the opportunity to try out new players. Defender Leny Yoro, who was bought from Lille, became a leg injury that forced him to undergo surgery and eventually had to undergo recovery until November 2024. Yoro also failed to make his debut with the Red Devils.

Repotnya, Ten Hag kemungkinan tak bisa menurunkan bek tengah Harry Maguire yang masih menjalani proses pemulihan. Maguire mengalami cedera yang membuat dia selepat di Euro 2024. Dia juga tak dimainkan di laga uji coba terakhir saat MU kalah 3-0 lawan Liverpool.

Maguire's absence shows he is not fully recovered. Meanwhile, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are also doubtful about appearing after suffering an injury against Liverpool.

The backline crisis left Ten Hag with no choice but to field Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez who have just undergone training in recent days. Shaw did not take part in the pre-season tour after strengthening England at Euro 2024. Likewise Martinez who led Argentina to win the 2024 Copa America.

If Shaw is not fit, the 17th-year-old left-back Harry Amass will have the opportunity to start. Amass played pretty well during his pre-season tour so he had the opportunity to play against the Cityzens.

After Raphael Varane and Maguire's injury, Martinez will duet with Jonny Evans at the heart of the Red Devils' defense. Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot fills right-back and Amass/Shaw on the left.

"Harry Maguire is absent [against Liverpool] is a warning. He's still a big question mark for Saturday's game. We still have to see if he's fit enough or can't go down," Ten Hag was quoted as saying by 90Min.

"The vector can already play, but he is also still a big question mark. Likewise Azza [Wan-Bissaka] and Luke Shaw. Kai is still waiting for how their last condition is," he said.

Not only Yoro et al, but also striker Rasmus Hojlund had to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury. He had to undergo a six-week recovery so he missed the Community Shield match.

Without Hojlund, new player Joshua Zirkzee will make his debut. Another alternative, Marcus Rashford or Jadon Sancho, played as false 9.

The young MU and England star Kobbie Mainoo is again the first choice in midfield. The mainoo, which scored the second gl and determines the 2-1 win in the FA Cup final against Man City last season, will work hand in hand with Casemiro.

Man City shows more readiness for Community Shield and definitely this new season. Pep Guardiola's manager is not as busy as Ten Hag in the hunt for players.

Guardiola is confident in defending the squad last season that brought Man City to the Premier League title for the fourth time in a row.

In that match, goalkeeper Ederson, who doubted his appearance. The Brazilian national team goalkeeper was absent when Man City won 4-2 over Chelsea in the last trial. Ederson's position is definitely replaced by Stefan Ortega.

The England and Spanish players who appeared in the Euro 2024 final have yet to be fielded. This means Man City without Rodri, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones.

It is better if Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Matheus Nunes and new Savio recruits can be fielded. Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez was not included in the squad because he was in the process of moving to Atletico Madrid.

Striker Erling Haaland is the first choice ahead. He was supported by tridents Oscar Bobb, Silva and Jack Grealish who were dropped from the Three Lions squad at Euro 2024.

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic and De Bruyne occupy positions as defensive midfielders. Behind are Rico Lewis, Dias, Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol quartets.

Grealish is optimistic that Man City will start the competition with a trophy at Community Shield. The match is a repeat of the FA Cup final. At that time, MU won 2-1 while failing Man City to win a double title.

"Manchester Derby is a very good start. We can't wait because this is the final test before entering the competition," Grealish was quoted as saying on the FA website.

"Derby is always a big game. It's also a great opportunity to face MU at Wembley. You can watch it in the two FA Cup finals. We want to win and make fans happy," he said.

In the FA Cup final, Man City is superior. However, MU was able to show the best game so that he could overcome The Cityzens.

Now, Man City is again a favorite rather than MU. The last condition of the Red Devils which was not good for Ten Hag made it a bit difficult for them to repeat their success as in the final.

Player Composition Forecast

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, De Bruyne; Bobb, Bernardo, Grealish; Haaland

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Evans, Martinez, Amass; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee