City, why are you like this?
Last Sunday, Manchester City faced Brighton, and it only took them 16 minutes to score three goals. With two assists from Lauren Hemp, a couple of goals from Khadija Shaw, and another by Niamh Charles, the outcome looked pretty grim for the visitors right off the bat.
However, what began as a straightforward victory turned into a bit of a nail-biter when City let in two goals before the break.
The previous week, in a match against Arsenal, City had similarly found themselves needing to come back, having been behind twice. It seems like there’s a pattern here, doesn’t it?
At the center of City’s impressive start this season has been Bunny Shaw. You know, the Ballon d’Or nominee? She’s been among the most impactful signings in the WSL over recent years. With seven goals already this season, she’s currently leading the league, keeping up her momentum from last year, during which she won the Golden Boot with 21 goals to her name.
But, really, it’s not just their attacking prowess that makes City tough to contend with. It’s how they manage to regain their composure in challenging moments. Take the second half of this match as an example. After conceding those two goals, City kicked up their pressing and started using possession with a newfound purpose, regaining the initiative.
Head Coach Andrée Jeglertz praised his team’s ability to recover, noting the belief and confidence that enabled them to secure the three points. Once they found their footing again, Man City seemed assured and managed to keep Brighton from building on their earlier success, shifting the game back in their favor with extended periods of possession.
City’s real strength didn’t come from dominating every moment, but rather from effectively managing crucial phases of the match to protect their lead.
Lauren Hemp, the architect behind the attack
Lauren Hemp has been phenomenal this season, and her contributions speak volumes about her status as a top-notch creator in the league.
The 26-year-old is creeping up on the all-time assist record in the WSL. In a remarkable start to the game, she notched her 51st and 52nd career assists within the first 16 minutes, setting up Shaw—just three assists shy of record-holder and teammate Beth Mead.
But it’s not just about racking up assists. Data from Opta indicates she’s created 67 significant chances, more than any player in WSL history. Just last season, she was responsible for 49 chances. Hemp excels in a variety of ways, whether it’s dribbling, driving the ball into dangerous areas, or delivering crosses. Notably, she led the league with 33 successful crosses, along with 23 carries that resulted in chances created, outperforming other notable wingers like Lauren James and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
This ability to convert an attack into a scoring opportunity has brought her within striking distance of that assist record.
Resilience shouldn’t be needed every week
While Manchester City’s winning mentality is impressive, it doesn’t really excuse a lapse that let Brighton come back into the game. They really shouldn’t be making things tougher for themselves, right?
Demonstrating that they can win even when things aren’t perfect isn’t the best strategy in a competitive league like the WSL. Perhaps their next focus should be on ensuring resilience serves as a safety net for emergencies rather than a necessity they rely on week after week.
