Jack Grealish’s Manchester City debut was ruined by Kelechi Iheanacho as the Leicester striker’s late charge clinched a 1-0 win in the Community Shield on Saturday.
All eyes were on Grealish when he came on as a 2nd half replacement following his British record ₤ 100 million ($ 139 million) relocation from Aston Villa on Thursday.
After training with his new team-mates for the very first time on Friday, Grealish replaced Sam Edozie in the 65th minute and looked vibrant in his cameo appearance.
Grealish, the most pricey English gamer of all-time, brought more threat than any of his team-mates.
But Grealish’s very first video game in a City t-shirt ended in dissatisfaction as Iheanacho netted the eleventh hour winner from the penalty spot after the Nigerian was hauled down by Nathan Ake.
Defeat in the annual drape raiser to the English top-flight season will matter little to City if they can duplicate last term’s exceptional kind, which brought them to Premier League and League Cup magnificence.
The Champions League runners-up begin their title defence at Tottenham on August 15 with an unsettled look that will worry Pep Guardiola.
With Guardiola admitting City’s interest in Tottenham striker Harry Kane on Friday, it was notable that his group did not have the type of cutting edge the England captain would certainly provide.
Convincing Tottenham to sell for less than their ₤ 150 million ($ 208 million) asking cost remains City’s hope, however they might be advised to splash on the evidence of this largely toothless display.
Admittedly, City were without Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden after the playmakers both suffered injuries at Euro 2020.
With several other City stars resting from Euro and Copa America duty, Guardiola fielded a weakened team including teenage debutant Edozie and fellow academy graduate Cole Palmer.
For Leicester, their 2nd Community Shield victory– and their first for 50 years– revealed they can construct on last season’s first FA Cup success.
3 months after beating Chelsea in the final, Leicester were back at Wembley nursing a protective injury crisis before the season has actually even begun, with Wesley Fofana, James Justin and Jonny Evans all sidelined.
— Grealish class -Brendan Rodgers did have Harvey Barnes back for the winger’s very first look considering that February after a major knee injury.
Barnes showed no signs of rust as he drew a great save from Zack Steffen with a stinging low drive.
City had threatened early on when Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick was superbly tipped over by Kasper Schmeichel.
However Leicester looked the more cohesive unit in the very first half and Steffen saved alertly from Jamie Vardy’s close-range flick.
It may have been a friendly, however Guardiola’s frustration at City’s battles boiled over when he was scheduled for an upset tirade at the fourth authorities after Palmer was punished for a nasty.
Vardy was inches away from opening the scoring when he met Barnes’ cross with an agile half-volley that was pressed onto the post by Steffen.
Grealish warmed up to huge cheers early in the second half before wild finishes from Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez wasted great chances to put City ahead.
City fans got their desire with 25 minutes left when Grealish was presented to substantial cheers.
Grealish, wearing the number 10 shirt, got a lot of touches as he glided around the last 3rd in search of space.
The most fouled gamer in the Premier League last season believed he had won a free-kick on the edge of the area after an incisive burst, however Paul Tierney waved play on.
An astute pass from Grealish chose Bernardo Silva’s run into the Leicester location, but his team-mate’s cross wasn’t up to scratch.
Regardless of Grealish’s class, it was Leicester who completed with the prize thanks to Ake’s oversight.
Caught in belongings by Iheanacho, Ake plainly tripped the striker, conceding a penalty that the Leicester star drilled high into the internet.
AFP.