Filed under: Manchester City, Manchester United, Football, Match Reports
The cold-eyed, sober view is that pre-season means little when it comes to properly assessing a team's prospects for the coming season.All well and good, but what chance was there ever of a Manchester derby staged at Wembley being treated as little more than a warm-up?
Make no mistake, the Community Shield mattered this time around. The meeting of the champions and the FA Cup winners is always likely to carry something of an edge given the teams most likely to be involved.
But this year it was clear from the build-up to the game there was more at stake and Wayne Rooney's reaction, given to BBC Radio 5 live, to Manchester United's 3-2 victory confirmed this was more than just another curtain-raiser.
"This shows who the best team is," he said. "All game we dominated. The difference the young lads made was outstanding. We never know when a game is finished, we took them apart. The scoreline is deserved. We're champions and we're the team to beat. We want to prove that."
United ultimately did prove just that and their performance in the second half was excellent, capped by in particular by Nani's 58th goal that cancelled out the two goal lead City built up immediately before half time.
The Portuguese's winner in the fourth minute of added time completed the victory and, having triumphed at the end of an excellent, full-bloodied contest, it was no wonder Sir Alex Ferguson and his staff leapt around in unrestrained celebration and Rooney took the opportunity to deliver his put down.
The United camp clearly believe they swatted the pretenders back down, silenced the noisy neighbours as Ferguson described them when he could afford to be more contemptuous of his club's cross-town rivals.
In doing so, however, they paid Roberto Mancini and his players a substantial compliment. A United victory over City was once considered routine, three points from a game that was regarded as more significant when viewed through blues eyes rather than red. Hence Ferguson's routine dismissal of the increasing threat from Eastlands.
City's progress and continuing activity in the transfer market means they cannot be ignored, however. Of course United wanted revenge for last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat, but they also wanted to assert their superiority and, on this occasion, they did just that.
There was much for Ferguson to be pleased about, not least the performance of a clutch of young players in the second half. "For us, I think it just confirms what I've thought," Ferguson said. "People were saying that we're not the best United squad and things like that but you've got to remember a lot of young players will improve."
For Mancini and his players, their participation in this game was a reminder that the 35-year trophy drought had been ended last season and with May's cup final triumph should come greater confidence and belief they are genuine contenders.
They were second best and appeared less well prepared but will improve when Sergio Aguero and - should he stay - Carlos Tevez comes into the team.
"When we play the first important game of the season like today it is impossible to have all players at 100 per cent," said the City manager. "It is the same for United. That is normal.
"But I know I have a good team and I am very positive about my team."
Nothing was decided by the Community Shield game, but as a taster for the season to come, it could hardly have been more appetising.
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