Tricky Foxes to test City in Community Shield
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City prepare for their first Community Shield match since 2016, where they will face regulars in this fixture nowadays in the form of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. City are yet to make a signing in the window however are poised to sign Jack Grealish and potentially Harry Kane to bolster their attacking options. Guardiola’s men won the Premier League at a canter last season and picked up the League Cup to go with it, an incredible quadruple was on for much of the campaign, falling in the FA Cup semi finals and Champions League, to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on both occasions.
Background
With far more internationals returning from duty Leicester may be favourable at the prices here, it is hard to pinpoint a definite angle with this match, despite offering silverware, essentially a glorified friendly. Often managers may be looking to avoid picking up an injury to a key player on the eve of the season, however the Foxes, with limited opportunities to pick up this trophy may be more inclined to deploy a stronger eleven. Patson Daka and Boubakary Soumare are incredibly eye-catching additions, carrying on the club’s inspired recruitment in recent years.
Daka joins from RB Salzburg where he has shown his quality in filling the void alleviated by Erling Haaland. Soumare enters the ranks after stringing impressive campaigns together with Ligue 1 champions Lille, giving fans an exciting prospect of playing alongside Youri Tielemans in the heart of midfield.
This is the third Shield match the Citizens have occupied in the last four years, winning in 2018 and 2019, Guardiola’s men have a great relationship with Wembley Stadium and therefore come in as comfortable favourites. The Foxes will be looking to put their disappointing end to the league season behind them, missing out on Champions League football on the final matchday for the second year in succession.
Leicester’s transfer policy and slow building of a squad capable of breaking into the top four has continued this summer and as their precocious roster continues to develop it feels like a matter of time before Champions League nights return to the King Power. Leicester stuffed City 5-2 at the Etihad last season, providing a blueprint of how to beat the champions, springing out on the counter attack to devastating results. City did have a centre back pairing of Nathan Ake and Eric Garcia that day, not as strong as the John Stones and Ruben Dias duo that was such a huge cog in their Premier League triumph. However it may be a rinse and repeat approach from Rodgers.
Leicester will give everything with City still taking stock from a busy summer on the pitch.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
1-0 Leicester City, Kelechi Iheanacho against his former employers.