Jill Scott says rivalry between the clubs is ‘getting stronger every year’ as contenders prepare to meet in first game of new season

The Women’s Super League season begins this weekend with two of the favourites meeting on Sunday. Manchester City visit the defending champions, Chelsea, and the experienced midfielder Jill Scott believes the rivalry between the two clubs is now the biggest in the game.

“There’s definitely something that has grown between us over the last few years, when you step on to the pitch against Chelsea it’s a bit like going to war,” the England international said. “I have a couple of friends in the Chelsea team but we make sure never to talk about football, because we all know it would only end up with arguments. Both sides have got that fight and desire and the rivalry is getting stronger every year.”

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Scott has won the league with City, albeit in a season shortened for transitional purposes, and knows how difficult it is to defend a title. “Every team wants to beat you,” she said. “We were disappointed not to win a trophy last season when it looked as if we might be on course for silverware but reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League was a massive step forward.

“It is a bit strange to be facing a team like Chelsea so early in the season but we have some good experience to fall back on now. When you have played teams like Barcelona and Lyon you know what to expect in big games, and this is going to be another one.”

City’s main rivalry might be expected to be with Manchester United, and perhaps in time it will be, though their neighbours have only just formed a women’s team so they have some catching up to do. Nick Cushing, the Manchester City manager, welcomed United’s presence among the 11 teams that will be lining up against each other this season. “It is a real positive for Manchester as a city and a step forward for the game as a whole,” Cushing said. “It will help grow the women’s game and show we are making progress.”

Cushing accepts Chelsea are likely to be the main threat this season though he insisted the league should not be viewed as a two-horse race. “Arsenal are consistently improving and pushing on, they will be highly motivated. West Ham have recruited well and Liverpool have a new manager,” he explained.

City themselves have done some recruiting over summer, having run out of energy because of fixture overload at the end of last season, with the 25-year-old Belgium international Tessa Wullaert perhaps the most eye-catching of a clutch of new signings. “We think Tessa will be a real asset for us because the way we play we need offensive midfield players,” Cushing said. “She has been playing for Wolfsburg in the German league, that is a quality division and we are hoping she can emulate the success she enjoyed there. She has a style that should suit our team and she can score goals, but playing in our midfield also comes with other responsibilities.”

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Scott describes Wullaert as a “really good character with a real passion to win”, though admits she has been impressed with all the new signings. “Gemma Bonner brings vast amounts of experience, we all know what Caroline Weir can do, and watching some of the younger players training makes me quite scared,” she said. “The level of talent at age 18 and 19 is frightening, and everyone seems to have a good attitude as well. It all adds to the competition for places, which can only be good. Everyone knows they can’t have a bad training session because it will probably mean you don’t play at the weekend. We ran out of legs at the end of last season so it is great to have a few more bodies around.”

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Still in contention for a place at City is Nadia Nadim, despite asking for a move a month ago. Nothing came of her request, and the transfer deadline has now passed, but Cushing maintains she is still enjoying her football and will be carrying on as normal. “Nadia will fight for her place like everyone else in the squad,” the City manager said. “We said we would deal with the situation calmly and sensibly, and that is what has happened. Nadia is a Manchester City player and will remain one.”

• This article was amended on 12 September 2018. An earlier version said Manchester United have only just formed a WSL team. This has been corrected to a women’s team.