The post Cristiano Ronaldo era ends. The Ancelotti reign begins. The Michael Owen experiment will get proof tested. Lots of little subtexts to the Community Shield match which takes place today at Wembley. Kick off at 1500 BST
Chelsea’s attack will be without the services of Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov, out through injury.
Man Utd’s defense has been plagued by injuries and Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown, and Gary Neville will not be playing the match. The Red Devils are also without Van Der Saar.
Ancelotti seems to be relishing the spotlight:
“It will be the first time for me to be at Wembley. It is not a friendly game, it is very important for us. We play against a great team. They were in the final of the Champions League last season.”
Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Belletti, Alex, Terry, Carvalho, Mancienne, Bosingwa, A Cole, Ballack, Sturridge, Mikel, Deco, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Ivanovic, Kalou, Ferreira, Malouda.
Man Utd (from): Foster, Kuszczak, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Gibson, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Macheda, Tosic, Fabio, Cleverley, De Laet.