Salute

Season Preview: Manchester City

After a second-placed finish last season, the Citizens mean business in the 2019/20 campaign - starting with the Manchester derby.

Manchester City will host Manchester United for their Barclays FA Women’s Super League opener in first ever meeting between the two side at the Etihad on Saturday, 7th September.

The 2019-20 campaign is not far away now - so we’re taking a closer look at what to expect from each club and this time it’s the Citizens.

There is no denying that the loss of Nikita Parris to European Champions Lyon is a blow to Nick Cushing’s side.

But with the deal tied up more than three months ago, Cushing moved quickly to bring in World Cup sensation Ellen White and offset the loss of Parris’ 19 goals last term.

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However, Cushing will start the season without his new striker while she recovers from knee surgery.

Elsewhere, they look well stocked in terms of attacking talent with Pauline Bremner and Janine Beckie able to fill in. But the full extent of the loss of Parris and temporary absence of White remains to be seen.

Cushing will no doubt we thrilled to have kept the core of his team together with Karen Bardsley, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton and Jill Scott providing an unmatched level of experience.

💬 @TessaWullaert: “The new players are settling in well. The cohesion is really good.



“Everyone’s enjoying the #wicc19. I enjoy friendly games at a high level – they prepare you for the games in the league.



“We’re all working towards the #ManchesterDerby.”



🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/N5EMCfjItx — Man City Women (@ManCityWomen) August 18, 2019

There is a healthy balance of old and young heads in the squad too with the likes of Keira Walsh, Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway improving at an alarming rate and new signing Aoife Mannion already looking the complete defensive package.

The problem last season was that despite going unbeaten until the very last game of the season, Cushing’s side dropped too many points in games they should be winning, drawing both home and away to Bristol City in the process.

The prospect of doing the same in this season’s curtain raiser is not one that the fans or players are likely to entertain when Manchester United arrive at the Etihad for the first ever Manchester derby in the FA WSL.

That game is likely to attract the eye of the wider footballing world meaning the pressure will be on both sides to deliver the goods – but who will stand up taller?



2018-19 STATS WATCH

League finish: 2nd



Top scorer: Nikita Parris (19)



Biggest victory: 7-1 (against West Ham at home)



Heaviest defeat: 0-1 (away to Arsenal)



KEY INS AND OUTS

Ins: Lee Geum-min, Aoife Mannion, Laura Coombs, Matilde Fidalgo, Ellen White

Outs: Nikita Parris, Abbie McManus, Claire Emslie, Melissa Lawley, Jennifer Beattie



PLAYER TO WATCH - GEORGIA STANWAY

Last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year seems to improve with every game she plays for club and country and this coming season won’t be any different.

The 20-year-old managed 11 goals last term but the intelligence of her passing and movement with and without the ball is perhaps her greatest weapon.

If the Citizens new No.10 can strike up a partnership with White when she returns then there could be no stopping them in front of goal.



WHAT THEY SAID

Caroline Weir

“I know Ellen and she is great person – the World Cup for me seems like quite a while ago now and it was great to see Manchester City players doing well but I don’t think we will talking too much about the England v Scotland game,” said Weir.

“She is physical and has a great attacking presence and obviously she can finish so she will bring a lot to the squad both on and off it.

“The first game of the season will be a massive one for us but also I think for the league as well – a lot of fans wants to see that Manchester derby.

“We aren’t looking too far past it to be honest – we know that we will need three points from that game and The Etihad is a great stadium so hopefully we will be playing in front of lots of fans.

Tessa Wullaert

“A few players have left us and they will be missed but we have also got some new players in the squad – hopefully they will enjoy playing at City as much as I enjoy it,” said the Belgian international.

“I think the best teams are always the ones that have a good connection with each other – you don’t need to be best mates of course but there needs to be a good relationship and we have that for sure.

“I am a winner so I want to win every game – we won the titles last season but of course everyone wants more and we know that we we’re close to winning the league as well last year.

“We lost too many points to teams below us in the table and did well against Arsenal and Chelsea so that is something we need to work on this season for sure.”