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Manchester City have clinched the Community Shield by beating rivals Manchester United on penalties at Wembley on Saturday after a 1-1 draw.
Alejandro Garnacho thought he’d clinched the Community Shield for United with his 82nd-minute strike, but Bernardo Silva’s 89th-minute leveller forced penalties.
It was City who came out on top in the shootout – which occurred after 90 minutes with no period of extra-time played in the traditional curtain raiser.
Here are three key lessons we learned from Saturday’s exciting Community Shield clash between the two Manchester clubs at Wembley…
Marcus Rashford is still struggling for confidence
Marcus Rashford had his head in his hands after missing a key chance in the first half. Casemiro set him up perfectly – but the Englishman skewed his shot a good few yards wide from a dangerous position, where he should’ve done much better.
‘There was no venom in the shot!’ former United striker Dion Dublin said. ‘He tried to curl it on the floor. I want a bit more belief that he can score. Rashford has been quiet and that kind of finish is from a player who hasn’t had many touches.’
He endured a quiet game, with his United teammates unable to find Rashford in behind City’s fullbacks, which largely made him ineffective in an attacking sense. In the second-half, he badly messed up another massive chance, hitting the post.
Rashford was incredible in the 2022-23 season but 2023-24 ended up being a total nightmare. It feels like this new 2024-25 campaign will be huge for the 26-year-old as he looks to get his career firmly back on track at Old Trafford.
Brilliant Oscar Bobb set for bigger role at Man City
Oscar Bobb looked really, really lively in the Community Shield clash against United – and he looks very much set to play a bigger role in the 2024-25 season. Bobb somewhat burst onto the scene last term with his stoppage-time winner against Newcastle United in January, but he’s desperate for more playing time.
Pep Guardiola handed Bobb a start at Wembley and he was causing the Red Devils all kinds of problems, with his impressive dribbling and poise in possession. He almost helped open the scoring for his side in the first half when won the ball high up the pitch in a dangerous area – and rather than being selfish – he played a clever pass to fellow City youngster James McAtee, with his shot hitting the post.
‘When you’ve got attacking players like Man City have, it changes the complexity of the game,’ former United midfielder Roy Keane said in his half-time analysis on ITV. ‘Oscar Bobb opens the pitch up for City, it makes a big difference.’
The 21-year-old Norwegian is a versatile star who can be deployed on both wings, as a centre-forward or as an attacking midfielder. Some may say that it’ll hinder his chances of nailing down a spot in the XI and he should focus on one position – but if Bobb keeps playing like this – Guardiola will simply have to make room.
Mason Mount puts in a very worrying performance
The Community Shield was another match to forget for Mason Mount. The 25-year-old midfielder was poor and hauled off after less than 60 minutes. It was a worrying sign, given how much he struggled in his debut campaign at United.
Mount was slammed on social media for his showing with one particular United fan describing him as a ‘scrub’ while another supporter suggested that he could find himself playing for the likes of Brighton or AFC Bournemouth next season.
There was one United fan who begged the club to ‘ship Mount out before the transfer window closes’, pointing towards his missed ‘tap in’ in the Community Shield clash and slamming the Englishman for carelessly giving away possession.
It comes after Paul Scholes warned Mount about his playing time for the new 2024-25 season. ‘Are we going to see a fit Mount this year?’ Scholes said. ‘Even if he is fit, he won’t play instead of Bruno. That’s the only position I see him playing.’
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