Manchester United faces their local rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield showdown to start the new season this Saturday. The Red Devils are still a work in progress as the requirement of transfer activities for both incoming and outgoing remains.
United manager Erik ten Hag has already confirmed that the team will face Pep Guardiola’s men without several key players. Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Rasmus Hojlund are all unavailable due to respective injuries.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot, Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee have just started training this summer. While some of these players will start due to a lack of numbers, others will more likely feature as substitutes.
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
Regardless of the situation at hand, United would love another victory over their rival after their FA Cup triumph. The Red Devils are far from the team that would hopefully strengthen more before the transfer window ends. However, facing the local rivals and wearing the club’s jersey means we go for the win no matter the adversity.
Andre Onana had a poor pre-season that continued with his struggles last season which rightfully worries a lot of fans. Paul Scholes voiced his concern over the goalkeeper recently and it is up to him to justify Ten Hag’s faith.
Injuries are riddling the defence again, triggering post-traumatic stress in our fanbase after last season’s misery. Diogo Dalot will take his role as a first-choice right-back while the left-back position will belong to Henry Amass. Amass delivered an impressive performance in the pre-season and deserves the starting role in the absence of Shaw and no alternatives.
Ten Hag has to settle with Jonny Evans and Martinez as the central defensive pairing for this game. However, he would prefer not to use Evans as regularly as he did last season because of the injury crisis.
Is Jadon Sancho a good option to start the season at number nine for Man Utd?
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 4, 2024
Erik ten Hag has spoken!#BBCFootball #PL #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/UhNtfsL9oS
United are searching for a good partner to play alongside Mainoo but their progress in the transfer market is slow. Mainoo has to play with under-performing Casemiro against Man City in the double-pivot midfield role alongside Fernandes.
More Manchester United News-
- 3 talking points for Manchester United ahead of the Community Shield final against Manchester City
- Manchester United’s €50 million transfer target caught in shocking legal scandal
- £86m Manchester United star set for move that could change everything
Amad Diallo performed brilliantly in the pre-season and deserves a starting role on the right attacking wing. Meanwhile, fans hope Rashford can continue his form on the left side with Jadon Sancho playing as a false nine. Garnacho and Zirkzee can feature as substitutes in the second-half considering the lack of training they have enjoyed so far.
