Sir Alex Ferguson ready for Sunday's game.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson takes his team back to Wembley for another Community Shield game on Sunday knowing that Chelsea will offer a stern test for his squad ahead of the new season.
United lifted the Shield 12 months ago following a penalty shoot-out victory against Portsmouth but this game is a repeat of the 2007 encounter which United won, again on penalties.
It’s a match that Ferguson always uses as a final warm-up for his players prior to next week’s Premier League kick-off, but is also eager to point out its competitive element.
“Make no mistake, pride comes into it for these players when they’re on the pitch,” he said.
“They’re playing at Wembley and there’s a trophy at stake…you can bet your life they want to do everything they can to win.
“The Community Shield is a game I’ll be using for any of my players who may be slightly short of match fitness and it comes at an ideal time for that purpose, just a week before the league begins.
“That’s how I’ve looked at the match in recent years and I’ll be doing the same this time around because it’s so close to the start of the league campaign and you want your players to be approaching maximum fitness by the time you run out at Wembley.”
The Old Trafford boss also knows that facing opposition such as Chelsea can only aid his squad with the two teams likely to be in the chase for honours this season.
“There’s usually nothing between the two sides and I don’t see any reason to think it will be any different this time,” he added.
“Chelsea have some terrific players and I’m confident the match will be a good advert for the start of the season. You’re always looking for a good performance and the Community Shield is the ideal way to kick-start your season.”
Ferguson is also looking forward to locking horns with new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti for the first time since the Italian’s move to England.
“I know Carlo quite well and he’s a very good guy, he’s a real football man and I think he’ll do well at Chelsea,” he said.
“He has a good footballing brain and a natural feel for the game – that probably stems from the great career he had as a player so I think he’ll fit in well."
To read more from the United manager, check out the official Community Shield match programme. Click here to buy online
