By Hope Robinson (11/2/26)
Above: Andrée Jeglertz, manager of Manchester City, on the touchline. Photo: bbc.com
Hope Robinson attended Manchester City’s press conference this week ahead of their Women’s Super League clash with Leicester City at Joie Stadium on Friday, with City aiming to reclaim momentum after Arsenal loss.
Fixture Overview
Manchester City host Leicester City at the Joie Stadium on Friday 13th February at 19:00 in the Women’s Super League, as the league leaders face the side currently bottom of the table.
The Foxes travel to the North West following a strong January transfer window aimed at lifting them from twelfth place. Permanent signings Ashleigh Neville, Alisha Lehmann and Rachael Williams, alongside the loan addition of Sarah Mayling, are expected to strengthen both ends of the pitch.
Manchester City, meanwhile, completed one major addition with the signing of Sam Coffey from Portland Thorns, bringing added defensive stability to midfield. The reinforcements made by both sides have already begun to shape their performances heading into the run-in.
Form Guide
Despite suffering just their second league defeat of the season in a narrow 1-0 loss away to Arsenal, Manchester City remain in strong form, particularly at home where they have won every league fixture so far.
Leicester City have lost their last three league matches, most recently a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester United.
The contrast between the two sides is reflected in the table. Manchester City sit top with 39 points from 15 matches, recording 13 wins, zero draws and two losses. Leicester City remain bottom with nine points, having picked up two wins, three draws and nine defeats.
Previous Meetings
History strongly favours Manchester City, who have never lost to Leicester City, recording 14 wins and one draw in all competitions.
The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a 3-0 victory for Manchester City, with goals arriving in the 74th, 83rd and 94th minutes. That result highlighted Leicester’s need for improved game management and the ability to sustain performance levels for the full 90 minutes.
Team news
Manchester City head into the fixture with an almost fully fit squad. Head coach Andrée Jeglertz confirmed that “we had a full squad in training today except for the players who have been out for a long time”.
Mary Fowler is available after returning to training following a knock, with Jeglertz stating: “She got a knock in training last week, she’s back in training this week and she’s available for Friday.” Aoba Fujino is also available after recovering from an issue picked up against Chelsea.
Jeglertz also confirmed there is “no update” regarding Bunny Shaw’s contract situation.
Tactical Battle
Manchester City’s ability to dominate games through an aggressive press has been a defining feature of their season. Jeglertz highlighted that their “biggest strength this season is being able to press high up”, while also acknowledging areas for improvement, admitting: “We struggle a bit with handling defending in a good way.”
Decision-making in advanced areas will be key, particularly after recent reflection. “We lacked decision making in the final half,” Jeglertz said. “Should we play wide, should we play central.”
Leicester City are likely to focus on defensive structure and transitional moments, looking to exploit space on the counterattack against a City side expected to control possession.
Players to Watch
Khadija Shaw, who scored a brace in the reverse fixture, remains Manchester City’s primary attacking threat. She is joined by Kerolin Nicoli, who also found the net in that match. Both forwards sit inside the league’s top three goalscorers with 14 and six goals respectively, while Kerolin’s recent hat-trick against Chelsea serves as a clear warning.
For Leicester City, Alisha Lehmann is one to watch. Despite arriving from Italy, she brings extensive Women’s Super League experience from spells at Everton, West Ham United and Aston Villa. Her direct running, technical quality and work rate could pose problems on the break.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Manchester City’s depth in midfield allows flexibility in both structure and personnel. Jeglertz emphasised the importance of adaptability, saying: “The players need to be able to play in different areas of the field, higher and lower.”
Yui Hasegawa remains central to City’s control, with Jeglertz describing her as “a very important player for us”. However, he also highlighted the benefit of alternatives, adding: “Yui will always be a key player for us but it’s also good for us to have more options and different players that can play together.”
Leicester City will need to remain disciplined defensively while sustaining intensity for long periods, particularly if City apply pressure early.
Manager’s View
Reflecting on the defeat to Arsenal, Jeglertz admitted he was “disappointed with the result”, adding: “We didn’t get the best out of us in the game, especially the first half.”
However, the response in training has been positive. “It was a short turnaround but the mood is back and we had great training today. We are definitely ready to bounce back on Friday,” he said.
Jeglertz stressed the importance of focus, stating: “We need to make sure we do everything we can to win and Friday is the first step to that. What other clubs are doing does not matter to us.”
On the physical and tactical demands of the fixture, he outlined clear expectations: “We need to create the spaces that we want. We need to run a lot without the ball. We need to break the line. We need to have that hunting mindset.”
Jeglertz also praised Coffey’s impact since arriving, explaining: “She has brought a lot of things. She’s a little bit different than the other ones, a little more physical and she’s more of a leader. It’s good for us and it makes the dynamic of the team even better.” He added: “You will see on Friday if she is starting or not but she is definitely ready.”
Key Matchday Battles
The flanks are likely to be decisive. Manchester City regularly exploit wide areas through Lauren Hemp and Kerolin, with full-backs Alex Greenwood and Kerstin Casparij also contributing heavily in attack.
Leicester City will rely on defensive discipline from Mayling and Neville, while Hannah Cain and Lehmann offer outlets going forward.
With some of the strongest players on both sides operating out wide, these duels could dictate the flow of the match. Manchester City may also look to shift the emphasis centrally if required, where the quality of players such as Vivianne Miedema and Hasegawa provides a significant advantage.
Manchester City enter Friday evening knowing that a response is required after their defeat at Arsenal, with Andrée Jeglertz emphasising focus, intensity and mentality as key themes ahead of the contest. Against a Leicester City side fighting for points at the bottom of the table, the hosts will be expected to control proceedings, but patience, decision-making and execution across the full 90 minutes will be crucial if they are to take the next step in what has been an intense period of the season.
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