Community Shield Preview: United vs Wigan

Another reason why the Community Shield is at times, the most unique competition in England – Wigan Athletic aren’t even in the Premier League. After being relegated last season under Roberto Martinez, reigning Premier League champions will face last seasons FA Cup champion whom triumphed over Manchester City. A stark reality will overcome the Wigan squad who likely will throw everything they have at United, in attempt to prove why the Lactics belong in the Premier League.

New bosses David Moyes and Owen Coyle will go head-to-head on August 11th to kick start the football season in England, with Mark Clattenburg in the center handling matters. Clattenburg recently told the FA website: “I’m hoping that the Community Shield will be a really good spectacle for everyone because it sets the standard for the season ahead.” Imagine if Manchester City thrust down Wigan in last seasons FA Cup final – this Community Shield may mean just a little more to David Moyes as he searches for his first piece of silverware.

Determined to kick start his season with success, Moyes will likely feature a fairly solid starting XI to bring home the Shield. As much as the reds players’ will want to lift the first trophy of the season, Moyes will also be eager to get the first piece of hardware behind him and begin the grueling trek into the Premier League with one of England’s most historic clubs.

Again, this is a year of firsts – the first matches without Sir Alex Ferguson. Rene Meulensteen and others have departed for new positions, while Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville link up to creating a veteran leadership for the current squad to look up to. On the other hand, for Owen Coyles men, for Wigan to win this match would mean the world to them as they begin their equally daunting task of finding their way back to the Premier League.

Even the FA general secretary Alex Horne noted the difference of this seasons competition:

“You have to go all the way back to 1985 for the last time that Manchester United played in this fixture without Sir Alex Ferguson on the touchline so the eyes of the world will be on the Community Shield as Wembley when David Moyes leads them out in August.”

Wembley will be rocking from all angles on August 11th especially with Manchester United fans present. United have been allocated 35,000 tickets for the Community Shield while Wigan Athletic have only received 15,000. So, ready yourselves football fans – as the Community Shield will hopefully not disappoint, and from a United perspective, bring one win of many to come this season.

Let the football, begin.

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