Manchester derby lifts the curtain on the 2024/2025 season

The Manchester derby will usher in the 2024/2025 English domestic season, the same way it ushered out the 2023/2024 season when Manchester City and Manchester United battled for the FA Cup trophy which the Red Devils won.

This time around they both meet in the Community Shield on Saturday as the Premier League champions Manchester City will be looking to get one over their fierce rivals Manchester United and take their revenge after the 2-1 loss in the FA Cup final in May.

Despite Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden relationship, The Community Shield is one title City have struggled in, as they have won just six of their 15 Community Shield appearances.

In fact, Pep Guardiola’s side lost the community shield in three successive years although it still falls short of the four losses in a row by Manchester United between 1998 and 2001. The Red Devils have a good record in the competition with 21 wins.

Meanwhile, this is their first game in the competition since 2016 under Jose Mourinho in 2016. Also Manchester United have been victorious in their last four appearances at the Community Shield. 

In 2011, Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in just the second meeting between both teams in the competition as they emerged 3-2 winners over City. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will hope to make it a third silverware in his third season.

Ten Hag had a disastrous 2023/2024 season in the Premier League but he managed to secure an FA Cup victory. The pre-season period hasn’t been straightforward too as Manchester United lost three and won two of the five matches they have played. 

They even lost new signing Leny Yoro to a long-term injury while striker Rasmus Højlund will miss the first few weeks of the new campaign, giving the Dutch manager plenty to tinker.