Ten Hag Looking For Another Trophy

Manchester United will play against Manchester City at Wembley this Saturday, just 78 days after they last met in the FA Cup Final.

United hopes to start their first full season under new owners INEOS with a trophy, while City wants to get revenge after losing last time.

This will be United's first time in the Community Shield since 2016, when they won their 21st Shield, more than any other team. City has only won six and hasn’t won the Shield since 2019.

Even though this match is not the most important, it will be a good test for Erik ten Hag’s team and a preview of how they might play in the Premier League. As the last players return to training this week, United could be at full strength.

United had mixed results during their tour, losing 2-1 to Arsenal, then winning 3-2 against Real Betis, but losing 3-0 to Liverpool. Injuries have been a problem, with Casemiro and Rhys Bennett finishing the Liverpool game in defense.

New player Joshua Zirkzee, now wearing number eleven, might make his debut on Saturday. However, Leny Yoro won’t play after getting injured against Arsenal. Yoro will be out for three months after foot surgery, and United tried to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich, but the offer was rejected, though talks are ongoing.

United is no longer interested in PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte because they don’t want to pay the high price PSG is asking. Instead, they might look for cheaper options, like Burnley midfielder Sander Berge, who played 37 games last season. Berge would cost much less than Ugarte, and United still needs to stick to a budget.

Selling players would help United spend more money. For example, Fulham wants to buy Scott McTominay for £20 million, but United is asking for £25 million. McTominay scored 7 goals in 32 Premier League games last season.

United’s summer plans were delayed by the late arrivals of Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada, so they might not be fully ready when the season starts in less than two weeks. The Community Shield game against Manchester City will show how much work still needs to be done before United plays Fulham at Old Trafford in their first Premier League match of the 2024/25 season.