The Community Shield may not be heralded as a major trophy as compared to the FA and EFL Cup, but it’s a moment to signal the return of English top-flight soccer and with it we’ll also be treated to quite the matchup. It’ll be a Manchester Derby to kick things off as Erik ten Hag and Pep Guardiola’s teams will meet at Wembley Stadium.
Despite winning the Premier League title last season, Manchester City will want more. This side is expected to win everything that there is to win. Meanwhile Manchester United will need to prove that they’re closer to the side that won the FA Cup and not the one that struggled to compete in league play last season.
How to watch
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 10 | Time: 10 a.m. ET
- Location: Wembley Stadium — London
- Live stream: ESPN+
Life without Julian Alvarez begins
Pep Guardiola is never one to keep players who don’t want to be at the club there, but in losing Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, it puts quite a hole in the attack.
“I don’t like to tell players what they have to do.”Contracts are nice but they can be broken. If you are not happy, why should you be here? He’s incredibly loved by the team for his behavior, but like I said many times of the players, if he wants to leave and wants a new challenge — Atlético is a top club in Spain and in Europe — and when they suggested to me through the club that he wanted to leave, I said it was OK. Imagine he stays when he doesn’t want to stay?,” Guardiola said about Alvarez’s departure. “I don’t know the reason why. He said he wants a new challenge and he feels it is what he has to do.”
It’s an important look into team dynamics. Despite City’s success, sometimes players want to leave so that they can be the main cog in the attack. Keeping players who want out can lead to issues festering and possibly hurt team morale, which is why it’s in Guardiola’s best interests to move players like Alvarez on. But the Community Shield will be a look at City without Alvarez.
This all means that Phil Foden will become even more important. New arrival Savinho is also someone who has a lot to gain from this opportunity after joining from sister City Group club Troyes (the French club had loaned him out to fellow City Group club Girona last season). Only 20, he was impressive for Girona scoring nine goals and assisting 10 more in league play. Considering that Alvarez wasn’t there just to score goals, that type of dual threat is what’s needed to replace him especially as players like Foden may need to rotate in as a a false nine if Erling Haaland misses time.
Will the real Manchester United please stand up
It has been quite a journey under Ten Hag for the past two seasons. United went from finishing third in the Premier League to an eighth place finish but they’ll still be involved in the Europa League by virtue of winning the FA Cup. Following that triumph, Ten Hag was extended through the 2026 season by United’s new ownership team, but he has yet to show that he’s a manager who can take Manchester United back to a Premier League title.
The Community Shield could be a chance to take a step in that direction if Ten Hag can overcome injuries to newly-purchased defender Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund to secure a trophy. United allowed far too many shots last season leaving things up to Andre Onana in net and doing that again to City will lead to a lopsided loss, but showing growth even if it’s minor, will do a lot to kick off the season on the right foot.
