Manchester United have lost the 2024 FA Community Shield to Manchester City
Manchester United were beaten by Manchester City in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium. The Red Devils failed to hold onto a 1-0 lead which they claimed in the 82nd minute courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho, as City struck before full-time thanks to Bernardo Silva’s header.
A penalty shootout ensued, which Pep Guardiola’s men won 7-6. Jadon Sancho and Jonny Evans missed from the spot from Man United, who have failed to add a third piece of silverware under Erik ten Hag’s tutelage.
United’s Premier League campaigns gets underway next as they face Fulham at Old Trafford. Manchester City, meanwhile, commence their title defence against Chelsea.
Here is a look at the three talking points from the 2024/25 season’s curtain raiser.
1. A match that neither side failed to influence
Although both teams played weakened starting line-ups, the Manchester Derby was far from an enticing affair as neither rival failed to grab the other by the scruff of the neck.
Manchester City dominated possession but failed to create any significant chances. They had a shot deflected off the post, but that was about it from Guardiola’s side until they struck the equaliser.
United, on the other hand, let a few chances go begging despite having a number of opportunities in either half. Marcus Rashford had possibly the most notable of them all in the first 45.
In hindsight, a penalty shootout was a fair way for the game to be decided and as it turned out, Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils did not have enough luck against Ederson from 12 paces out.
2. Garnacho proves talismanic for Man United once more
Alejandro Garnacho was the scorer of Manchester United’s only goal in regulation time. The Argentine international was in the right place at the right time to give his team the lead.
And while the goal did not lead to much, his auspicious start to the season is reason to believe he can do well for them once more and prove to be a handy asset for Erik ten Hag.
He had seven goals and four assists in the Premier League last season although the winger is exponentially improving over time and can target breaching the 10-goal mark in the English top-flight in the upcoming campaign.
Ten Hag will very possibly count on Garnacho as a vital cog in the starting elevens and it will be exciting to keep an eye on his progression for the entirety of next year.
3. Dalot was a bright spark in defence
Diogo Dalot is about to get a stiff competitor for a place in the starting line-up with Manchester United set to announce Noussair Mazraoui’s arrival from Bayern Munich very shortly.
The Portuguese international did a good job as the full-back against Jeremy Doku. He largely kept Manchester City’s left winger and creative outlet at bay for most of the game, until the Belgian was withdrawn half an hour into the second half.
Although Mazraoui is arriving, a determined Diogo Dalot can very possibly give the former Ajax Amsterdam star a good run for his money whilst also proving to be a very important back-up in the busy parts of the season.
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The 25-year-old’s future will be worth keeping an eye on if indeed Mazraoui steals all the limelight at Old Trafford, though United value him very highly and will not let go of one of Ten Hag’s trusted lieutenants very easily.
