English Football Season Kicks Off with the Manchester Derby
The football season in England opens with a highly anticipated “derby” clash between Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, and their neighbors Manchester United, the FA Cup holders. The two giants will face off in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, one week before the Premier League kicks off.
Manchester United defied the odds in the FA Cup final at the same venue, overcoming Manchester City with a 2-1 victory. Goals from Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo secured the win for United, while Jeremy Doku found the net for City.
This victory played a significant role in Dutch coach Erik ten Hag retaining his position at the helm after a challenging season where his team finished eighth in the league. Despite this, United secured a place in the Europa League for the upcoming season by winning the domestic cup.
In response to the challenging campaign, the club’s board has backed Ten Hag by bolstering the squad with the additions of Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee and French center-back Leny Yoro, with more signings expected before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
However, the “Red Devils” are grappling with injury woes, as revealed by Ten Hag on Thursday. Key defenders Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all expected to miss the derby.
Yoro also suffered a fractured metatarsal in his left foot and has undergone surgery, ruling him out for approximately three months. Additionally, Danish striker Rasmus Højlund sustained a muscle injury that will sideline him for six weeks.
Argentine center-back Lisandro Martínez joined the squad only this week after contributing to Argentina’s successful Copa América title defense earlier this summer.
United did not perform well during their American tour, suffering defeats to Arsenal (1-2) and Liverpool (0-3), though they managed a 3-2 victory over Real Betis.
Manchester City’s pre-season preparations were similarly underwhelming. The team lost three out of four matches during their American tour, suffering defeats to Celtic, Milan, and Barcelona before finally securing a win against Chelsea.
City’s squad was missing key players during this tour, including Spanish midfielder Rodri, Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, fellow Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden, all of whom resumed training earlier this week after their summer breaks.
City’s only notable addition to the squad has been Brazilian winger Savinho, who joined from French side Troyes after spending last season on loan at Girona. Meanwhile, Argentine striker Julián Álvarez is reportedly on the verge of a move to Atlético Madrid for a fee of around €90 million, according to press reports.
Manchester United will kick off their Premier League campaign on the 16th of this month by hosting Fulham, while Manchester City will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on the 18th.
As Manchester United and Manchester City gear up for an explosive derby clash in the Community Shield, the excitement is palpable. Betway is your go-to platform in UAE for experiencing the thrill of every match, offering unbeatable odds and live betting options that put you in the heart of the action.
