Man City and Chelsea set up for Community Shield

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The stage is set for the curtain-raiser of the new season in English football as Manchester City battle it out against Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield at the Wembley.

The glorified friendly between the league champions and the FA Cup winners has been a notoriously poor predictor of success in recent years – no winner has gone on to be crowned champions in the same season since Manchester United in 2010-11.

The game, likely to be played in sizzling summer temperatures in London, is set to feature various youngsters and fringe players as World Cup stars ease their way back into club action.

But whatever the line-ups, there are plenty of talking points and the game will be closely watched for clues as domestic football reclaims center stage just three weeks after the World Cup final in Russia.

David Luiz (C) during a training session at Chelsea Training Ground in Cobham. /VCG Photo

Will new manager Maurizio Sarri be able to revive FA Cup winners Chelsea, who finished fifth last season after winning the title the previous year under Antonio Conte?

Most of the players who were on duty at the World Cup have now returned to training but Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are still on their post-Russia breaks.

“I think it will be a good game, always Chelsea is a big rival. Antonio was, Maurizio will be too. The style of play will be perfect for English football,” Guardiola said.

For Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas is a doubt with a minor knee injury.

And France World Cup winners N'Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud, Belgium trio Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batshuayi, plus England's Gary Cahill, are yet to return following the World Cup.

Sarri suggested a similar side to the one that featured in pre-season would play at Wembley, meaning 17-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi could be included.

Sarri, who has not won a trophy in his career, said: “I want to win, because it's very important to have immediately a trophy. But in this moment of the season it's very important, the performance.”

(With input from AFP)