Chelsea vs Manchester City: Preview, Predicted Starting XI and 5 talking points ahead of the Community Shield

Manchester City v Chelsea - Premier League
Chelsea and Manchester City lock horns in the Community Shield on Sunday

Manchester City and Chelsea will play each other in the build-up to the 2018/19 Premier League, in the Community Shield on Sunday. This will be City’s 11th appearance in the Community Shield, and in the previous ten times, City have won 4 and lost 6.

The record for Chelsea is not too good either, as the London club have not won the Community Shield for 9 years now. Since then, they have had 4 attempts and lost all of them. Ironically, all the Chelsea managers in charge of those 4 Community Shield defeats lost their jobs in the next season, so new Boss Maurizio Sarri will be wary.

The two sides have met only once in the Community Shield before, in 2012, when Premier League winners City faced FA Cup Winners Chelsea at the Villa Park. City won the game 3-2.

Team News

Both teams have a few first-team players missing due to their involvement in the World Cup and as such it will be an opportunity for the squad players, youngsters and new signings to impress their manager before the start of the season.

Fabregas is doubtful for Chelsea with an injury, while Kante, Giroud, Hazard, Courtois, Batshuayi, and Cahill are all enjoying their post World Cup holidays.

For City, Mahrez is available for Sunday and Pep has indicated that he shall play a part in the game. Unlike Chelsea, City have only 2 players missing due to World Cup involvement – Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.


Predicted Teams

Chelsea Predicted XI: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Fabregas, Barkley; Pedro, Morata, Hudson-Odoi

Manchester City Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Mendy; Silva, Fernandinho, Foden; Mahrez, Aguero, Sane


Here are 5 talking points ahead of the Community Shield:

#5 Will Mahrez start the game?

FC Bayern Munich v Manchester City - International Champions Cup 2018
Mahrez was lively for City in preseason until his injury

Mahrez joined Manchester City from Leicester City for a club record £60 million and has performed well for his new club in pre-season. In a team missing quite a few stars, his class was even more prominent. Mahrez played 176 minutes for City in the pre-season and looked completely at home. In fact, in the Liverpool game, he was so good that Liverpool had to repeatedly foul him to keep him at bay.

However, he was injured during the Bayern Munich game and he had to return to Manchester to recover. There were doubts about the seriousness of the injury and it was initially thought that Mahrez might miss the Community Shield. However, Pep Guardiola has since confirmed that the Algerian will be involved on Sunday and whether he starts or comes on as a substitute, Mahrez will have Chelsea worried ahead of the game.

#4 Will Jorginho be effective in his first competitive game for Chelsea?

Chelsea FC v Perth Glory
Jorginho has looked totally at home for Chelsea in preseason

Jorginho was already a revelation for Napoli last year, notably making over 3000 passes at an average of 1 pass every 50 seconds played. Following in the footsteps of his coach Sarri, the Italian midfielder, who was born in Brazil, joined Chelsea this season for £47 million and seemed to continue where he left off.

In his debut for Chelsea against Perth, Jorginho touched the ball 101 times and made 98 successful passes. What made the statistics even more enticing is that he played only 45 minutes. Jorginho was decent against Inter Milan and Arsenal as well, even though he did not have an impact akin to his first game.

Now it remains to be seen whether he can assert his authority against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and dictate the game in what will be his first competitive start for Chelsea. Even in the absence of De Bruyne, Jorginho will definitely be tested against the free-flowing City midfield.

#3 Will this be Willian’s last game for Chelsea?

Newcastle United v Chelsea - Premier League
Willian's future at Chelsea is still not resolved

The transfer market was full of rumours that Willian was headed for Chelsea exit, with Barcelona and Manchester United both vying for the Brazilian's signature. The Brazilian was enjoying his vacations due to his involvement in the World Cup with Brazil and had played no part in Chelsea's preseason games so far.

But recently, the rumours have dried up, with Chelsea Coach Maurizio Sarri reiterating his desire to keep Willian at the club. The Brazilian has also joined up with the Chelsea squad ahead of the Community Shield, but it is unlikely that he shall start the game due to lack of practice. However, with Manchester United still looking to bolster the right side of their attack, the rumours cannot be brushed aside until the transfer window closes.

#2 Can Guardiola continue where he left off last season?

Manchester City v Brighton and Hove Albion - Premier League
Pep will be looking to hit a higher gear this season

Last season, Manchester City ran away with the Premier League, while playing brilliant, eye-catching football. But Pep would not be content being a one season wonder, he would be desperate to better his team's performance. He would strive to bring consistency into his team, because only then would they be real champions.

As such, this season becomes very important for Guardiola. In the preseason, he has successfully mixed the experienced with the novice, the youngsters with the old guards and as such, Pep looks to have the freshness and the composure in his team to retain the title, but on Sunday, Maurizio Sarri will be testing his resolve. Pep knows he can assert his dominance by winning the Community Shield and making a positive start to the Premier League.

#1 Will Sarri’s tactics be effective for Chelsea?

Arsenal v Chelsea - International Champions Cup 2018
Chelsea under Sarri has looked good in Preseason

Maurizio Sarri's Napoli finished 2nd in the league last season, with 91 points and only a brilliant Juventus side with better resources and 4 more points stopped them from getting the League title. Sarri relocated to Chelsea over the summer and immediately made subtle changes to the London side which seems to be very effective.

For starters, he has switched to a back four, and this has strengthened the Chelsea defense. He has also rejuvenated Ross Barkley in the preseason and brought his midfield general Jorginho to dictate proceedings for a new look Chelsea. In addition, Hudson-Odoi and Pedro seemed to have slipped effortlessly into his tactics.

In the preseason, his "Sarri-ball" principles have blossomed well and Chelsea already looks a different side, with a lot of pressing in the team and increasing easiness on the ball. His center backs are the only defenders in the team it seems and Sarri even expects them to play the ball out of the back. His players press higher up on the pitch and with Jorginho already looking like a leader in the midfield, have put themselves on a very strong position ahead of the new season.

The only hiccup that remains is regarding how he shall fit Jorginho and Kante together, but that will be when the French World Cup winner returns from his vacations and even then, you can trust Sarri to find a way. For now, Sarri should give Pep a strong challenge in his own game in the Community Shield.

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Edited by Raunak J