Manchester City have just narrowly missed out on the 2023 Community Shield after losing 4-1 to last season’s title rivals, Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola‘s men had the chance to start this year’s campaign how they ended the last one: with a shiny piece of silverware that would have been their fourth in 2023. However, a very late equaliser from Leandro Trossard in the 11th minute of stoppage time ultimately saw the game go to pens.
The treble-winners went nearly 80 minutes without scoring in the tightly-contested charity shield match against the side, who also came runners-up in the Premier League — the Gunners selected as the default opponent given the fact that Man City also won the 2022/23 FA Cup.
However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 77th minute when youngster Cole Palmer buried an absolutely wonderful long-range finish to put the Blues ahead. Regardless of the result, what a moment this was for the burgeoning City star.
While many might have rightly expected the likes of Erling Haaland to create the match-winning moment, his performance was much like last year’s Community Shield match against Liverpool where he just couldn’t quite leave his mark. Instead, it was left up to the academy prospect to produce the goods.
Unfortunately for City, the Wythenshawe-born winger and attacking midfielder’s goal wasn’t enough to get them over the line as the deflected effort from Trossard trickled into the back of the net sent the game straight to a penalty shootout
Arsenal’s Fabio Viera was entrusted with the final penalty after both Kevin de Bruyne and the Champions League final match-winner Rodri failed to score theirs, seeing Pep’s former protege Mikel Arteta get on over on his mentor ahead of the new season kicking off on Friday, 11 August.
So, whether you would have been bold enough to count it or not, City will have to settle for remaining treble-winners for now. We’re sure they’ll get over it…
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At the end of the day, we all know how it works: the Community Shield is only another trophy in the cabinet if you win it and just a ‘glorified pre-season friendly’ if you don’t — we still have no doubt Manchester City are pretty everyone’s favourites to win the league again in May.
You can watch the highlights of this year’s FA charity shield down below:
Man City vs Arsenal 2023 Community Shield highlights
Featured Image — Emirates FA Cup/Arsenal/Man City (via Twitter)
Sport
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Danny Jones -
6th August 2023 
