Manchester United faces their local rival Manchester City in the community shield clash that commences the highly-anticipated new season. The Red Devils secured the FA Cup win over the Blues with an emphatic 2-1 victory at Wembley Stadium.
The last game of the last season remains somewhat fresh in the memory of the Old Trafford loyalists. However, as the new season beacons the fans are hoping for the club to make new memories to cherish.
United manager Erik ten Hag has many strong backers but a lot of naysayers who require much more than domestic cup triumphs. The FA Cup trophy cannot hide the fact that United’s overall season fell short of their very high standard.
The Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages followed by their early Carabao Cup loss. They struggled in the Premier League and eventually finished 8th, below Newcastle United and the struggling London rivals Chelsea.
"We need the right energy. We need the right spirit, fight and good ideas to make this happen"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 2, 2024
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United are in a project and want to build on the trophies they have won while he has been at the club pic.twitter.com/r9l68NZIxr
United plays in the Europa League next season thanks to their cup victory but returning to the Champions League is the priority. Putting the season’s ambitions aside, here are the three talking points ahead of United’s clash with the noisy local rivals-
Injury crisis persists
Severe injury crisis played a mitigating factor last season as United struggled to perform in all departments under Ten Hag. The defence became so crippled that Sofyan Amrabat played as a makeshift left-back due to the lack of natural options.
The Red Devils cannot afford to face a similar crisis again but pre-season injuries have given glimpses of similar despair. New signing Leny Yoro suffered a foot injury against Arsenal in the first half, sidelining him for three months.
Erik ten Hag: “Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw are question marks for the Community Shield”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2024
“Lisandro Martínez will be involved”. pic.twitter.com/HtTeQ9dd3A
At the same time, Rasmus Hojlund will miss the start of the season after suffering a hamstring injury against Arsenal. Ten Hag confirmed that Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will miss the game against Man City.
On the positive side, Mason Mount has recovered from the recurring injuries that hampered his consistency throughout last season. The Englishman needs to prove his worth to the team and could play a crucial role next season.
New forward signing Joshua Zirkzee could debut for the Red Devils as fans are keen to see him. Nevertheless, the injury crisis is something that United needs to address as players have no reason to be so injury-prone.
Man United's new striker Joshua Zirkzee says his position is more like a 9.5 pic.twitter.com/icKo0LvDtf
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) August 8, 2024
Critics accuse the team of failing to compete with clubs whose players cover massive distances per game in a high-pressing style. People shouldn’t blame Ten Hag, despite suggestions that his training was ruthless, because he didn’t face this issue at Ajax. Instead, they should first question the fitness team after so many seasons of injury problems in the squad.
Who will partner with Kobbie Mainoo?
United’s dark 2023-24 season had one shining light in Kobbie Mainoo as he secured a starting role in November 2023. The 19-year-old’s steep rise allowed him to break into the international setup, featuring heavily for England in the Euro 2024.
However, Mainoo needs a midfield partner to complement his strength and protect the space between the midfield and defence. The Red Devils actively pursued Manuel Ugarte but failed in negotiating terms with Paris Saint-Germain who are demanding too much.
Man United have other options like last season’s loanee Sofyan Amrabat or Burnley’s defensive midfielder Sander Berge as strong alternatives. However, none of these players can feature against Man City which leaves the likes of Casemiro or Scott McTominay.
After their struggles, both players have failed to justify their continuity as first-team options in the deep position. While McTominay has earned goodwill by scoring late match-winning goals last season, Casemiro has constantly struggled with pace. No matter what happens in the Community Shield, the Red Devils can only fix this issue in the transfer market.
Jadon Sancho: From outcast to utility man
Jadon Sancho and Ten Hag saga dominated the news for most of the last season which never helped Man United. While the club struggled with inconsistency and identity on the pitch, the civil war only acted as an unwanted distraction.
“Jadon can play across the whole front line”
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 8, 2024
Erik ten Hag on whether Jadon Sancho will continue as a central striker for Man Utd pic.twitter.com/4Hs6XcStZ3
However, they have let bygones be bygones after a private meeting during the summer as Sancho returned to action. The pre-season friendly saw Sancho play as a false-nine after Hojlund suffered the hamstring injury and Zirkzee was unavailable.
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Sancho could play a crucial role as a utility player for Ten Hag this season, fulfilling multiple roles accordingly. United struggled with numbers in the attacking department due to poor individual forms and injuries, making Sancho’s return potentially crucial. The Englishman has a lot to prove as he enters the peak year of his career and needs to justify the hefty price tag.
