Big Week For Moyes' Reds

Manchester United fly to Sweden this afternoon, at the start of a week that features three matches in three different cities and the chance for David Moyes to pick up his first piece of silverware in the Community Shield.

That fixture, against Wigan Athletic at Wembley, will cap a busy seven days that begins in Stockholm with Tuesday night’s friendly against AIK Fotboll and also includes Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial against Sevilla at Old Trafford on Friday.

Moyes is expected to take a strong squad to Sweden on Monday afternoon, including players who missed out on the recent three-week trip to Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong through injury or extended holidays following summer international commitments.

All three games this week should provide a stern test ahead of the Reds’ first Barclays Premier League match, away at Swansea City on Saturday 17 August, but it’s the Community Shield that will matter most to players, fans and, of course, the new Manchester United manager.

No longer a friendly season curtain-raiser, the Community Shield is now counted as a full-blown competitive fixture. And for David Moyes it’s a chance to begin his Reds career with a trophy.

Speaking with the club’s official monthly magazine Inside United (out this Wednesday 7 August), Moyes admitted he wants to get his hands on the Shield, although acknowledges the lion’s share of the credit – should he be successful – belongs elsewhere.

“I will be trying to make this the first trophy of many, but if we win it’s really something that will have been earned by Sir Alex,” he said. “It’s because of his good work in the Premier League last season that we’re in the Community Shield.

“I’ll do my best to finish off the job, but it’s Sir Alex who will deserve a lot of the credit if we’re successful at Wembley.”

United play AIK Fotboll in Stockholm on Tuesday 6 August (18:30 BST), Sevilla at Old Trafford on Friday 9 August (19:30 BST) and Wigan Athletic at Wembley on Sunday 11 August (14:00 BST).