4-2-3-1 Man United’s predicted line up vs Man City – Community Shield: Zirkzee and Amad start but 4 defenders out injured?

Man United ended the 2023/24 season with an emphatic win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final and now they will be eager to start the 24/25 season on the front foot as well.

The Premier League starts later this month but before the main event, there is going to be a curtain raiser this weekend when Erik ten Hag takes his side to Wembley to face Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Unlike the previous transfer windows, Man United have massively stepped up their game this summer, signing some very important and valuable players without much fuss. However, a lot of work still needs to be done and we are expecting Manchester United to sign a few months players by the end of this month.

Not a lot will be riding on the outcome of this Saturday’s Manchester Derby but for Ten Hag, this is a great opportunity to test and implement his tactics before the 2024/25 season kicks off in full swing.

Manchester United’s team news for the Community Shield:

Last campaign, Ten Hag was very very unlucky with injuries but things have not gotten a whole lot better. Man United will take the field this weekend without some important players like Rasmus Hojlund and summer signing Leny Yoro out injured.

Yoro is going to be out for around three months and to add to the woes, Maguire, Lindelof and Luke Shaw are all doubts for the weekend.

“Harry Maguire missed the game [against Liverpool last weekend] as a precaution but is still a question mark for Saturday,” Ten Hag has said, as per The Guardian.

“So we have training, we have to see whether he is fit enough or not to be available. Victor played but also he’s a question mark and also Azza [Wan-Bissaka] and Luke Shaw are both question marks – we have to assess them tomorrow.”

With so many defensive injuries, the Man United manager might have to use the pairing of Evans and Martinez in central defence with youngster Harry Amass featuring at left-back.

Kobbie Mainoo joined the training camp much later so he will not have the legs to play the full 90 minutes however, the youngster is going to start alongside Casemiro in central midfield. Mainoo is most likely going play around 60 minutes following which Mason Mount should replace him.

Garnacho is another player who got an extended break thanks to his international endeavours and he is expected to start on the bench because Amad has been in top form during the pre-season games. It will be absolutely unfair on the manager’s part to keep Amad on the bench this weekend.

Hojlund’s injury means summer signing Joshua Zirkzee should play upfront. Even though the Man United manager has claimed that Jadon Sancho and even Bruno Fernandes have the ability to lead the line, we believe that it is going to be Zirkzee who will play as the centre-forward.

Man United predicted line up vs Man City – Community Shield:

Goalkeeper: Onana.

Defenders: Evans, Dalot, Harry Amass, Martinez.

Midfielders: Casemiro, Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes.

Attackers: Rashford, Amad, Zirkzee.