Maurizio Sarri will have a perfect opportunity to kick start his Chelsea story on a high, kissing the Community Shield, but he have to get through reigning champions of England – Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
It’s going to be an exciting battle – the attacking football of Sarri against the defensive one of Guardiola.
When and Where?
Location: Wembley Stadium
Date and Time: 3pm BST on Sunday 5 August
Where to watch: BT Sport 1
Team News:
Riyad Mahrez was a doubt for participation due to ankle injury sustained against Bayern Munich last weekend, but will be available for contention after Pep Guardiola confirmed his involvement.
“Mahrez is good. He had a little bit of pain but he trained day before yesterday – I think so (he can play on Sunday),” Guardiola confirmed.
Manchester City will be missing the services of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, as both the superstars are yet to return back with extended break due to World Cup participation. Both of them will return back to Manchester on Monday.
Chelsea will be missing the services of World Champions N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud, plus semi-finalists Thibaut Courtois, Michy Batshuayi and Gary Cahill are yet to return to training following their extended break due to long stints in Russia. Though, England’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be available for Chelsea as the starlet cut-short his holiday time to be ready and prepared for the upcoming season.
Manchester City last won Community Shield in 2012 where as Chelsea achieved the feat in 2009.
Player To Watch: Callum Hudson-Odoi
Hudson-Odoi have highly impressed for Chelsea in the preseason and have made a real case for his first team participation. Chelsea boss Sarri confirmed much anticipated Odoi’s stay at Stamford Bridge.
Callum was shoulder to shoulder with Hector Bellerin last weekend and he kept Arsenal’s right back busy with his defensive duties.
“He will be a very, very strong player.
‘Will he be in the first team squad? I think so. He will be staying with us for all the season.” – Maurizio Sarri after Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal.
Hudson-Odoi is one of the favorites to start for Chelsea against Manchester City this weekend and Pep Guardiola & Co. would have to be vary of the attacking threat the 17-year-old possesses.
Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Mendy, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Mahrez, Aguero, Sane
Chelsea predicted XI: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Fabregas, Barkley, Pedro, Morata, Hudson-Odoi
