Above: Manchester City Women vs Manchester United Women in the Subway Cup Photo: Manchester City Women
by Bethany Monkhouse (4/2/25)
After the 2023/24 season ended in devastation for Manchester City, the danger signs are now flashing that this campaign could end the same way.
Sunday’s home defeat to Arsenal has set City back and virtually out of reach from the title as Chelsea steam away. Sonia Bompastor’s side sit at the top of the league with a total of 37 points – 12 ahead of City, who are currently outside of the Champions League qualifying places in fourth.
With Chelsea adding to their already formidable squad in the transfer window, with City’s January experience somewhat different, the immediate future looks challenging for Gareth Taylor’s side.
With only nine WSL match days left this season, and the league title becoming out of reach, head coach Gareth Taylor stated that City’s main objective is “to be in Champions League qualification places at the end of the season.” Is this a lowly aim for a club of City’s resources and potential?
With Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all ahead of City and, arguably having greater strength in depth, City will need to perform to their best for the rest of the season to make sure a spot is achievable.
With key players, Lauren Hemp and captain Alex Greenwood both out with knee injuries, this means City are having to adapt to other players filling their roles. Hemp played a total of seven games in the WSL before her knee injury, scoring twice and provided five assists. Gareth Taylor’s side are visibly missing her pace and her flexibility of being able to play both left and right wing, and Greenwood’s game reading abilities, as the main starting centre back.
Whilst the race for the top three is a real battle, there is still hope for the Sky Blues in other areas. City are also still competing in the Subway League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Champions League which means the players are going to have less rest and be under high pressure to perform well.
With a spot in the League Cup Final to be won, City are going to have to beat Arsenal away on Thursday night – no easy task. However Gareth Taylor is going into it with confidence as his team are usually, as he puts it, “Really good at fighting back.”
Manchester City’s chances of winning silverware this season, will come down to them performing at their best, every game. Nothing less will do it. That’s asking an awful lot. The team has plenty of silverware they can attempt to win, but they have absolutely no breathing space now. The time has come for them to be clinical.
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