Manchester City is set to begin their 2024/25 season with a clash against their local rivals, Manchester United, at Wembley Stadium. This match serves as a rematch of the Emirates FA Cup Final from May, where City surprisingly lost 1-2 to United. Despite winning the Premier League for a fourth consecutive time last season, City couldn’t secure the FA Cup, with United triumphing through first-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
During last season’s Premier League, City won both encounters against Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. However, they also faced a setback in the FA Community Shield, where they lost to Arsenal on penalties. In that match, Cole Palmer’s goal for City was equalized by Leandro Trossard, leading to a penalty shootout that saw Arsenal emerge victorious.
Manchester City has regularly competed in the FA Community Shield but hasn’t won the trophy since 2019, when they defeated Liverpool in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
Saturday’s fixture will mark Pep Guardiola’s 21st match at Wembley as Manchester City’s manager. The 53-year-old Catalan coach, who has led City to numerous successes, is entering the final year of his contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
Guardiola’s future plans beyond 2025 remain unclear, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming season.
Recently, City had a limited squad available during their four-match tour of the United States, but several first-team players have returned to training this week at the City Football Academy.
However, for the upcoming Community Shield match, Manchester City will be without several key players. England internationals Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Phil Foden are unavailable, along with Spanish midfielder Rodri. Guardiola confirmed these absences during his pre-match press conference.
Additionally, Julian Alvarez will be absent as he finalizes a club-record transfer to Atletico Madrid. On a brighter note, summer signing Savinho, who joined from ES Troyes for an initial £21 million, might make his first-team debut for City in Saturday’s game, potentially adding a new dynamic to Guardiola’s side as they seek to begin their season with a victory at Wembley.
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