The FA Community Shield sponsored by McDonalds
2pm, Sunday 11 August 2013
Wembley Stadium
Live on ITV1
Bryan Robson says he expects Manchester United to get their season off to a winning start on Sunday.
The Reds head to Wembley for The FA Community Shield, where they face last season’s FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic.
And the former England and United skipper believes it’s an early chance for his old club to get their first silverware of the season under new boss David Moyes.
Robson told FATV: "It's a great way to start the season and if you can actually win the Community Shield, you've won something before the season has even started.
"It gives you the confidence to start the season and it's another medal or trophy in the cabinet.
"It will be great for David if they win that game to get a trophy in the cabinet, from his first competitive game of the season.
"I think it's important for Man United as a club, and as a team, to set their stall out right from the start of the season.”
Robson, who also paid tribute to Sir Bobby Robson this week ahead of National Football Day on Saturday, won the Shield on three occasions during his illustrious career at Old Trafford.
And he maintains that the season’s traditional Wembley curtain-raiser is an ideal way for any team to start the new campaign.
"I used to always enjoy playing in the game, they were always really competitive,” he added.
"It hasn't got the intense pressure of playing in an FA Cup Final or trying to win the title but if you ask any player, you go into the Community Shield and you want to win it.
"This is a great game for the Man United players to try and establish something straight away at the start of the season.”
The former Middlesbrough, West Brom and Sheffield United manager also backs United to win Sunday’s game with the start of the Premier League season just a week away.
But with Wigan having already made an impressive start to their campaign in the Championship, he knows Owen Coyle’s side will be ready for them.
He said: "Wigan have probably got a little bit of a head start because of their pre-season and they've already played a League game.
"I've put them as favourites to win the Championship because they've still got some very good players in their squad.
"But United have had plenty of games in their pre-season and as long as the players are mentally up for the game, they've got to be odds-on favourites to win this game.”
Watch the full interview with Robson below, as he looks in more detail at Sunday’s game and United’s prospects.
