Chelsea enjoyed beating Manchester City to the signing of Jorginho last month but this Sunday will provide an indication of whether they are better equipped to compete against them on the pitch this season.

The significance of the Community Shield is always downplayed by both coaches every year, yet after what happened last term, Chelsea do have a massive point to prove.

Manchester City did not just succeed them as Premier League champions in May, they destroyed Chelsea’s morale.

The 30-point gap in the table between the two sides tells only part of the story. Anyone who witnessed the Chelsea players chasing shadows in the 1-0 home defeat in September could see that the defending champions’ crown was already slipping.

It was worse for the rematch at Etihad Stadium six months later. Former Blues coach Antonio Conte set up his side to surrender from the outset.

In tactics worthy of a side trying to scrape a point to help avoid relegation, the Chelsea players sat deep and pumped aimless long balls toward the disillusioned 5ft 8in frame of Eden Hazard, his talent criminally employed as a ‘false nine’.

Even after going a goal down, the white flag stayed raised as damage limitation then appeared to be the priority.

It ended in another 1-0 defeat but the damage to their reputation would have hurt the players most, not helped by a clip that went viral on social media showing them at walking pace as Manchester City played keep-ball.

The arrival of midfielder Jorginho and Conte’s replacement as manager, Maurizio Sarri, from Napoli is unlikely to be enough to bridge the gulf in terms of squad depth between now and May but it is a fine place to start.

Sarri’s methodology is the polar opposite to Conte’s. The latter can point to a record that reads five major trophies to zero but the former’s style of play has earned friends around the world.

Defender Cesar Azpilicueta has noticed the change in philosophy already. He said: “It is a different way. Since the first day we have been trying to learn and improve on what he wants. The way we play now, we attack forward, we defend forward. We will try to get the ball from Manchester City and then play our football.

“In the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Wednesday, you could see very good combinations, playing from the back, different options, pressing high. That’s how we want to play against Manchester City too. They are a very good team but we will try to play our game and hopefully we can win again.”

Sarri had already earned the respect of Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and winger Leroy Sane before arriving on these shores. Two flattering victories for Guardiola’s side over Napoli in the group stage of the Champions League in 2017 ensured that. As Guardiola said earlier this year: “Often a coach is judged on wins but you’ve also got to look at the shape as well as the substance - Sarri had Empoli and Napoli playing great football and he did a fantastic job.”

Remarkably, Sane (above) went even further in his praise, insisting Chelsea are Manchester City’s biggest threat ahead of Liverpool and Manchester United in their quest to retain the title.

He said: “I think Chelsea because they have brought a really good coach. If you have seen how Napoli played, it was really attractive and really good. We really suffered against them. They will need some time to get really used to his tactics. They could be really tough.”

After three pre-season friendlies, it is clear that Sarri is already getting his message across. Even without their best players Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante, who return from their post-World Cup holidays this weekend and will not feature at Wembley, the Blues have been far more entertaining to watch.

With Jorginho, his trusted lieutenant brought from Napoli, pulling the strings in midfield, Chelsea should have far more possession against Manchester City this time around.

Cesc Fabregas, who looks re-energised playing for a coach who wants to utilise his talents, is unlikely to feature because of a knee injury but that gives an opportunity for English duo Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Then there is 17-year-old winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin will not forget in a hurry after being given the run-around in midweek.

Naturally a change in formation, from a 3-4-3 to 4-3-3, has highlighted new weaknesses. Chelsea are vulnerable defensively out wide and in front of the back four, especially without Kante providing protection.

But this is an important occasion for Manchester City to make a statement, too. No side have successfully defended the Premier League since Manchester United won three in a row between 2007 and 2009. City’s pre-season has also been affected by players taking a break from the World Cup, while losing out on Jorginho means their only significant arrival is Riyad Mahrez - a player many might deem is not really required given the options already available.

In the grand scheme of things, the result will have little bearing on the campaign to come. One suspects, though, that Chelsea have more to gain because if they come out on top, it will help restore some of the pride and self-belief lost against City last season.