It is less than four months since City overcame their old rivals in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, the penultimate stage in ending a 35-year trophy drought.
On the same day Roberto Mancini's men were completing that significant task, United secured their record 19th league title, ensuring the most significant warm-up for the Premier League campaign will be between the two Manchester giants for the first time since 1956.
It seemed certain the significance of the occasion would have some bearing on Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics.
However, United assistant-manager Mike Phelan is adamant the match will be used for fitness, even if the stakes are rather higher than normal.
"It is no different," said Phelan.
"It is a tasty one of course because it is the two Manchester clubs coming up against each other.
"But we may try out a few new things. We have a week to prepare.
"The FA Cup semi-final was disappointing. But this is a new season.
"We will have a look at a few new players to see if they can handle it and take us into the league. That is what it is all about.
"Manchester United is all about challenges. You get them every day. Next Sunday will be no different."
Is the result of the Community Shield game important? Have your say. Tweet
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come on you reds
We won the one that mattered.
Would be nice to roll the reds over again but not too fussed about a pre-season friendly. Bigger fish to fry.
The team which wins will consider it important. Phelan is obviously getting his excuses in early.
Either team would be mad to bust a gut with the new season starting! The first game of the new season is far more important than a showpiece friendly!
We've always treated this as just another game in preparation for the season. I don't expect any different approach. It's had no bearing historically on who wins any trophy. Normally it's been a North/South encounter. Much spicier to have an all Manc game. Bring it on...... whatever.
All the noises coming from Gill and Ferg suggests that there will be no new midfield signings. FACT.
I can understand that the club does not want to spend £25-30M+ on a player that would be no better than any current player. But surely when there is an opportunity to improve the squad you take it???
We all know there is an improvement on Darron Gibson....
3-0 to the best football club in the world...Manchester United. L.U.H.C....................
As a trophy, it's meaningless whoever competes for it. As a training game prior to the season you want it to be competitive to give the players a thorough workout. The thing that's bad about it being United vs City is all the silly hype that the media comes up with and, of course, all the silly bitters and their childish comments. In the end, it's only a pre-season friendly
To have this mindset of treating next Sunday's Community Shield as part of their pre-season campaign is quite a risky move.
It's still a derby !! No way we should let Man City get a slight of edge even if its just community shield. We have to aim to win every single possible trophy especially against City.
We have 3 weeks of pre-season in USA and almost full squad fit and ready to go.
Community Shield is just a week b4 the season start and more or less and the first team must be set unless Sir Alex still pondering or doesn't consider his squad complete?
Or Did Sir Alex let Mike Phelan take charge of this match? I doubt so
with this being utd's last appearance at wembley,it may be a good time to buy any match memorabilia for investment purposes.
I say the same every season, and i still say the same, it's a pre season warm up, nothing more. Yes it is nice to win, but that's all, it;s just "nice", it means nothing if you win or lose.
It'll be quite funny actually if City win, because they will probably be the first club to be bragging about it 9 months later come next May!
I DON'T BELIEVE IN PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY MATCHES,,IN UNITED CAMP WE TAKE EVERY GAME SERIOUS BCOS PRE-SEASON GAMES SHAPE OUR WINNING MENTALITY FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON,,,I KNOW GILL IS PLAYING MIND GAMES BCOS NEXT SUNDAY WE'LL BE RED HOT ALL OVER OUR NOISY NEIGHBOURS AND WE'LL BE UP FOR REVENGE AND WE'LL BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THE MAN CITY---WE DON'T HAVE FRIENDLY MATCHES IN UNITED COS EVERY GAMES COUNTS AND ACTS AS FUEL FOR THE NEXT SEASON CHALLENGE,,,,COMMUNITY SHIELD CUP WILL BE IN TRAFFORD NEXT WEEK,,WE ARE UNITED
phelan is not suitable for the post of asst manager at UTD
I think fergie should have made a call to martinez for that role
Can’t see Utd playing their strongest team on Sunday, specially because some will be & are involved in vd Sar’s testimonial game on Wednesday & again on Friday for Scholesy’s one.. (Rooney, Vidic, Giggs & Rio) – so for these guys 3 games in 5 days? No way…
Plus I can’t see Fergie throwing in De Gea & Jones in this one, this could be a game that could influence the rest of their season, if they make 1 mistake in this game it could haunt them throughout the season..
Sunday’s team;
Lindegard
Rafael, Smalling, Evans & Evra
Nani, Carrick, Anderson & Park
Owen & Berba
United , go for the jugular boys !!
We all want u to win !
United for ever
Yes we won the games and the trophy that mattered, but its all about pride !
If United are not going into this game with the sole aim of attempting to win it then please tell the fans who are considering travelling to wembley at great expense not to bother. Members of the management team at old trafford should remember that everytime a player puts on the shirt of man utd and takes to the field that he is playting to win, otherwise don't bother.
I normally couldn't give two hoots about the Community Shield but given the opposition this season it could be a bit tasty!
If we lose then fair enough but if we win I hope we can do it with some dignity and not go overboard abusing the bitters, lets not lower ourselves to their level eh? ;-)
Is the result of the Community Shield game important?
Probably not but it's more important than the pre-season friendly result against Barcelona. The CS gives bragging rights for a day for most clubs or in city's case a whole generation! They'll probably put another star on their badge if they win.