The new season of top European leagues will kick off with the Manchester derby between City and United. The two rivals ended last season with the FA Cup final, won by Ten Hag's team, and will face each other again on August 10 for the Community Shield. The first trophy of the new football year in England will be up for grabs at Wembley. After losing the last two finals, the Community Shield against Arsenal and the FA Cup against Manchester United, Pep Guardiola's team aims to add a trophy to their cabinet that has been missing since 2019. The Citizens have lost the last three editions to the Gunners in 2023, Liverpool, and Leicester.
Guardiola starts the season with many certainties, as confirmed by the few transfer moves made so far. The only major signing has been Savinho, a promising winger born in 2004, acquired from Troyes after a season on loan at Girona. The deal cost the Citizens' management 40 million euros. Now, the focus shifts to potential departures: returning players like Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips and the situation with Ederson, who is tempted by a move to Saudi Arabia. The first name linked to Man City if the Brazilian goalkeeper leaves is the captain of the Italian National team, Gigio Donnarumma, who had an outstanding European Championship.
From the transfer market to the pitch. After the Community Shield, Haaland and his teammates will make their Premier League debut against Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, a former student of Guardiola at Manchester City. The champions of England will face a big match right away, scheduled for August 18 at Stamford Bridge. At the end of September, they will play against Arsenal: the direct clash with Arteta's team, their great rival of the last two seasons, is set for the weekend of September 22. While awaiting the return of the new Champions League, another major declared goal for Pep Guardiola and his squad, alongside defending the Premier League title, is to compete with Mbappé and the new Galacticos of Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid. The hunt has already begun.
Premier League, Liverpool soars: Arsenal and City struggle, Tottenham sinks
11 Nov - 17:58 •
1' min
