Community Shield: City to Edge Season Curtain-Raiser
3 min read
The Football League begins this weekend and on Sunday we have the annual domestic “curtain-raiser” between Champions Manchester City and FA Cup winners Chelsea.
I’ve given my thoughts on the Community Shield as Pep Guardiola’s men take on Chelsea, who have replaced one Italian manager with another during the summer break.
Chelsea v Manchester City
A new manager and new hope at the Bridge, but reports suggest Maurizio Sarri faces a battle to keep star players Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois at the club. Do note the transfer window closes before the start of the season on Thursday August 9th.
The two Belgians excelled at the World Cup, as Hazard won the Silver Ball and Courtois was awarded the Golden Glove award for the best performing goalkeeper at the tournament.
Hazard is currently to join Real Madrid before the transfer window closes, while compatriot and Chelsea teammate Courtois is also looking likely to sign for the Champions League holders and seal a return to Madrid, having won the La Liga title while on loan at Atletico in the 2013-14 season.
City are likely to be without a number of key players at Wembley, including Kevin de Bruyne, but the same can be said of the Blues and I expect Guardiola’s side to edge an entertaining game.
At the time of writing it is unsure how many players who reached the knockout stages of the World Cup will be back in action, but I hope Riyad Mahrez has shrugged off an injury picked up against Bayern Munich in the States to make his competitive debut in a City shirt.
Tip:
City to win and both teams to score at
