Zlatan Ibrahimovic takes one competitive match to make his mark in England, Arsenal’s defensive issues mount and Eden Hazard turns it on for Chelsea again.
There’s also another 4-0 result featuring Liverpool, an Andy Carroll double and further signs of Southampton improvement.
Here’s how a busy final Sunday of pre-season unfurled.
Leicester City 1 Man United 2
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late header won United the Community Shield after a spirited second half fightback from Leicester.
Jesse Lingard provided the decisive moment of an otherwise cagey first half, skipping past three defenders and finishing smartly.
Claudio Ranieri’s half-time changes, introducing record signing Ahmed Musa and Demarai Gray, galvanised the Premier League champions and Jamie Vardy’s equaliser, from a Marouane Fellaini error, was deserved.
The match became disjointed as both managers changed personnel regularly, before that man Zlatan out-jumped Wes Morgan to head home an Antonio Valencia cross.
Ranieri had opted to start virtually all the players who formed the nucleus of his title-winning side, with Andy King in for N’Golo Kante and Shinji Okazaki supporting Jamie Vardy, meaning Musa – despite his midweek brace against Barcelona – had to make do with a place on the bench.
Jose Mourinho, with rather more options at his disposal, handed Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly starts, with Luke Shaw at left-back and Anthony Martial and Lingard providing midfield width.
Bailly, in for the suspended Chris Smalling, looked solid against the speed of both Vardy and Musa and received Mourinho’s post-match praise:
“Eric (Bailly) is working since day one, he started the pre-season with us, he played matches, he’s fit so I knew that with him it’s just a question of his personality allowing him this big move from Villarreal to Man United to Wembley. It was just that. He was super comfortable so no doubt that he’s a man for us”.
Fellow summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan was surprisingly given a mere two minutes – in time added on – which suggests that the Armenian could be gradually eased into life at Old Trafford.
Lingard took a knock and came off in the second half, although Mourinho played down the issue.
“I think Lingard must not have anything really serious so we are in good condition to work but of course there is a long way to go.”
The Red Devils’ boss also discussed Ibrahimovic, as the Swede looks to build up his match sharpness after moving in the summer:
“Zlatan is tired. I think he’s tired even before the game starts so (he’s) a bit slow, lacks a bit of sharpness but then we have one cross, one header, one goal, one trophy. Zlatan will be more dangerous when we are more dominant and play closest to the box. Zlatan is not a very fast player to play 50 metres away from the box like where Vardy can be dangerous. Zlatan needs the team to play, he needs the team to produce and he needs the team to be arriving in the final third. It’s something that we also have to change because the profile of this team was more about possession of the ball. Even arriving in crossing positions, the team normally plays back again and tries to change to the other side. We are trying to change. The reality is the second goal is a great example of that.”
Leicester new boy Nampalys Mendy came on in the second half, but it was the introduction of the pacey Gray and Musa that caught the eye and perhaps pointed the way to the Foxes’ future attacking configuration.
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Simpson (Hernandez 63), Huth (Ulloa 89), Morgan, Fuchs (Schlupp 80), Mahrez, King (Mendy 62), Drinkwater, Albrighton (Gray 46), Okazaki (Musa 46), Vardy.
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw (Rojo 69), Carrick (Herrera 61), Fellaini, Lingard (Mata 63) (Mkhitaryan 90+2), Rooney (Schneiderlin 87), Martial (Rashford 69), Ibrahimovic.
Man City 2 Arsenal 3
Fantasy Premier League mainstay Sergio Aguero scored, Raheem Sterling impressed, but it was Arsenal who eventually prevailed in an entertaining encounter in Sweden.
The win came at a price, however, as an ankle injury picked up by Gabriel saw the Brazilian stretchered off the field and leave the stadium on crutches. After the match, Arsene Wenger conceded he’s yet to discover the extent of the defender’s injury:
“We have not even made a diagnosis in the medical room with our doctors or physios yet. I can’t tell you more. He’s in pain. Let’s hope the pain is not a sign of bad news. The only thing we have to know now is how big the damage is with his ligament. He’s just come out of a medical room and he’s not in a better state because he couldn’t even talk on the pitch.”
With Per Mertesacker out for months, Wenger may consider rushing back Laurent Koscielny for the season opener against Liverpool. The Gunners boss confirmed that Koscielny is due back in full training today following his Euro 2016 exertions and given that he only has Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding (4.5 apiece in FPL) as alternatives in the heart of defence, could decide to gamble on Koscielny’s experience against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Pep Guardiola took a threadbare City defence to Sweden, with Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi not even travelling, leaving Fernando and Aleksandar Kolarov on centre-half duties.
At least City’s attacking threat is bountiful, and Aguero opened the scoring from a fine Sterling ball.
Wenger made changes at half time and the match turned soon after when Alex Iwobi equalised from a Theo Walcott assist.
The England international then grabbed a goal himself, finishing expertly after a nice interchange with Alexis Sanchez before Chuba Akpom made it 3-1 after a mix-up in a City defence that frequently struggled to implement Guardiola’s plans for them to play the ball out from the back.
There was still time for Kelechi Iheanacho to pull one back after good work by Jesus Navas, but the Gunners held on for a deserved victory.
Both managers took the opportunity to give pitch time to key assets, with Guardiola affording Nolito just over 60 minutes and Kevin De Bruyne a 37-minute cameo, while Wenger started both Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey for the first time and gave Santi Cazorla another run-out. Intriguingly, Sanchez was fielded as the Gunners’ lone striker yesterday, with Ramsey in the central support role.
Guardiola rued the result but declared himself pleased with the performance, particularly by his wingers:
“The two goals came because we attacked the byline. It was two crosses; one from Sterling and one from Jesus. Today all the typical players go inside but I like to attack byline. Of course Sterling likes to play on the left but that is when it is good to know the players. The last two games he has played on the right and he did it really well”.
The City boss also hinted at a degree of rotation for the season ahead as he looks to cope with the schedule:
“All the players are going to play an important role so we cannot judge after three friendly games which players are going to play all the season. There are a lot of games and players cannot play every three days so the players who are ready will play more”.
Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin (Debuchy 77), Holding (Chambers 45), Monreal (Gibbs 77), Gabriel (Bielik 90), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Walcott 45), Xhaka (Elneny 45), Iwobi (Campbell 69), Ramsey (Cazorla 64), Coquelin, Sanchez (Akpom 78).
Man City XI: Caballero (Hart 45), Kolarov, Fernando (Adarabioyo 63), Zabaleta (Sagna 64), Delph (Toure 68), Sterling (Zinchenko 80), Nolito (Navas 63), Silva (De Bruyne 63), Aguero (Iheanacho 68).
FSV Mainz 05 4 Liverpool 0
Another day, another 4-0 drubbing, but it was Liverpool on the receiving end this time as Jurgen Klopp’s return to his former club didn’t quite go to plan.
The German elected to field a young side, with only Adam Lallana and Emre Can starting both the weekend matches.
Liverpool again lined up in a 4-3-3, with Lallana and Ben Woodburn either side of Divock Origi up front. Marko Grujic was handed a central role, but lasted 39 minutes before suffering an ankle injury which Klopp later described as “nothing serious”.
Danny Ings replaced the Serbian as Lallana dropped back into midfield.
Joel Matip returned from an injury lay-off to play the full 90 minutes and give Klopp options at centre-half, although Dejan Lovren, who limped off against Barcelona, was fit enough for the bench in Germany.
After the drubbing, Klopp conceded he has “no idea” whether Daniel Sturridge will be fit for the trip to the Emirates next Sunday, after the striker missed out against Barcelona on Saturday with a hip problem.
Liverpool XI: Manninger, Alexander-Arnold (Randall 46), Matip, Wisdom, Moreno (Hart 60, Can (Stewart 46), Grujic (Ings 39), Henderson (Wijnaldum 74), Lallana (Brannagan 46), Woodburn (Gomes 46), Origi (Firmino 74).
Southampton 1 Athletic Bilbao 0
Shane Long’s winner from a Steven Davis pass handed Southampton a final pre-season win as the players continued to adapt to coach Claude Puel’s diamond formation.
Puel again paired Long with Nathan Redmond up front, with the two strikers asked to pull out deep and wide to provide cover when out of possession. As a result, Dusan Tadic, in the number ten role, was often the most advanced central player.
The tactic seems to work well for the pacey Long and Redmond, but it is less suited to the strengths of Charlie Austin.
Puel still has selection issues to finalise at the back, though.
Jose Fonte and Cedric Soares were afforded just 45 minutes apiece upon their return to action yesterday, following an extended summer break with Euro 2016 winners Portugal, whilst regular left-back Ryan Bertrand is ruled out of the season opener against Watford due to a knee problem. Matt Target (4.5) recovered from injury to play most of yesterday’s match and looks in pole position to start until Bertrand returns to fitness.
There was an injury scare when Virgil van Dijk limped off, but local reports played down the Dutchman’s withdrawal after he was replaced with five minutes on the clock.
Southampton XI: Forster; Cedric (Pied 46), Yoshida (Fonte 46), Van Dijk ( Stephens 85), Targett (McQueen 74); Hojbjerg, Romeu (Ward-Prowse 46), Davis (Reed 74), Tadic (Clasie 46); Redmond (Austin 66), Long (Rodriguez 66).
West Ham 2 Juventus 3
West Ham’s unbeaten record in their new stadium lasted precisely one match despite a spirited comeback against their illustrious opponents.
A goal either side of half-time from Andy Carroll cancelled out Juve’s blistering start before a late winner from the Italians settled matters.
Carroll’s double came from a rebound from his own header and then another with his head from a Mark Noble cross.
Coach Slaven Bilic was finally able to give his star midfielder Dmitri Payet a late run-out and fielded Sam Byram at left-back once again to cover for the injured Aaron Cresswell. With the latter sidelined for months, though, the Hammers are reported to be closing in on the signing of Olympiakos left-back Arthur Masuaku.
Angelo Ogbonna’s inclusion at centre-half enabled Havard Nordtveit to move into midfield after putting in a defensive shift over the last two matches, while Adrian returned in goal.
West Ham XI: Adrian, Antonio (Payet 74), Ogbonna (Oxford 45), Reid (Collins 45), Byram (Page 85), Nordtveit, Noble (Quina 60), Cullen (Browne 82), Feghouli (Burke 45), Carroll (Fletcher 54), Valencia (Samuelsen 74).
Werder Bremen 2 Chelsea 4
Eden Hazard continued his run of good form with a goal and assist in an open match in Germany.
Fellow midfielder Oscar put in another fine performance that suggests he might well be playing his way into a starting berth for the Blues’ opener against West Ham on August 15.
Hazard, the subject of our Sleeper article earlier this month, is attracting increasing interest from Fantasy Premier League managers, with nearly 15% now buying into the 10.0-priced asset. Oscar, at 7.5, offers considerably better value but is owned by just 0.9%.
The Belgian opened the scoring before Oscar made it 2-0 a minute later from a Diego Costa pass. Hazard then set up Costa and substitute Pedro made it four late on.
Coach Antonio Conte went for a 4-1-4-1 formation, with N’Golo Kante sitting in front of the back four in his first start for the club. Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas were handed 45 minutes apiece in the centre of the park.
The Italian seems to have settled on his back four, who started for the second match running, and Costa’s goal handed him a much-needed confidence boost.
After the match, Conte discussed the make up of yesterday’s selection. The Italian – who had previously preferred a 4-2-4 but has changed to 4-1-4-1 in the last two friendlies when Kante has been on the park – went on to say:
“Today I saw some situations that we are trying during the training session. I want to play with high intensity, to win the ball back very soon after we lose it, to attack with the right balance. I saw positive things and many situations that we can improve. We are working on this. Now remains one week of work before the season starts.”
Chelsea XI: Courtois (Begovic 82); Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, (Hector 77), Azpilicueta (Aina 75); Kante (Chalobah 82); Willian (Moses 70), Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 75), Matic (Fabregas h/t), Hazard (Pedro 70); Diego Costa (Batshuayi 70).
