While fans partied under the bright Manchester sky following an exciting seven-goal match, a sense of disappointment lingered at Joy Stadium.
Last season, Manchester City narrowly missed the title due to goal difference, but this year they finished a hefty 17 points behind dominant team Chelsea. To add to the woes, they also missed out on European competition.
This marks the third time City has ended outside the top three in the past 11 years in the Women’s Super League. It’s fair to say this season hasn’t met the club’s high expectations, and, even more concerning, it’s the third straight year without winning a trophy.
City suffered a heartbreaking late equalizer against West Ham in March and dropped critical points from winning positions, ultimately missing out on Europe by just one point. The primary topic of discussion among fans and analysts alike has been injuries.
Nick Cushing, the interim head coach, is feeling the weight of expectations. He expressed a strong desire to see the team back in contention for trophies, though he acknowledged there’s a lot to address moving forward.
City had a promising stretch with ten wins across competitions from late September to mid-November when most of their core players were fit. But injuries have plagued them—long-term knee issues for Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood, plus the sporadic availability of Khadija Shaw, who was expected to be a top contender for the WSL golden boots despite appearing in only 14 of 22 games. Mary Fowler’s ACL injury only compounded these challenges. Other teams have also faced injuries, with Chelsea managing to cope well, particularly with Sam Kerr, but for City, the lack of player availability has really cost them.
Cushing has been back at the club since Gareth Taylor was let go in March, and while he thought Saturday’s match was his last, he’ll remain until the first World Sevens Football Event in Portugal later this month.
He mentioned, “We’re contracted until June 1st, and after that, we’ll be back in December, January, and February, looking to develop teams and compete for trophies.”
Searching for a new coach is in progress; managing director Charlotte O’Neill and women’s soccer director Therese Sijoglan are making important decisions, aiming to counter Chelsea’s dominance in the UK women’s game.
There’s certainly potential in this City team. They showed their capability with a 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace, bouncing back from a 2-1 halftime deficit to dominate the second half.
City also boasts top players, including Hemp, who led the league in assists even while not fulfilling a full season due to injuries.
Looking ahead, they’ll need to fill the gap left by Laia Aleixandri, who’s set to leave for Barcelona after the season. Investing in their squad during the busy summer is crucial if they want to compete consistently with top teams like Chelsea and Arsenal.
