1) Laying a ghost to rest
Aaron Ramsdale said the win over City had removed a “mental block” after losing three fixtures to Pep Guardiola’s last campaign.
Whether that actually turns out to be the case when they face each other in the Premier League, we shall have to wait and see, but Ramsdale clearly feels a weight has been lifted from the squad’s collective shoulders.
If every player now starts this season with the sense of it being a fresh start, without reflecting any further on the major disappointment of losing out on the title, that can only be a good thing.
Even if the Community Shield itself isn’t really worth a great deal, if it can help put down a marker for the new campaign, then Sunday’s win could prove to be extremely beneficial.
