Manchester City Women Bracing Up for Chelsea Showdown

It will be a fight to finish at the Academy Stadium when Manchester City women take on Chelsea on Sunday. Alan Mahon’s charges know this may be a do or die affair as far as winning the Women’s Super League title this season is concerned. Having downed another title rival Arsenal 2-1 earlier this month, the Citizens will need to complete the job against Chelsea.

Emma Hayes’ team remains the main challenger to the title at the moment with Arsenal playing catch-up, three points behind City. But the Blues have been in white-hot form this term and remain unbeaten in the division. Beating defending champions Arsenal home and away has also been a big statement to the fact the side is ready to conquer the league this term.

Although City also lost to the visitors in the first leg, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a different ball game. The players are in high spirits as they prepare for what could be the game of the season. City’s forward Ellen White captured the mood of the players. For the 30-year-old, who joined the team last summer from Birmingham, the match cannot come soon enough.

Gunning for a historic 12th consecutive league home win, the team is not lacking reasons to stay motivated. But the win will be more important in the title race. Chelsea sit second on the log, a point behind City but with a game in hand. Therefore, failure to beat them would hand them the advantage. But the team is not thinking of anything other than victory. The players are looking forward to the game with excitement, according to White.

“We’re all really excited,” she said. “To face Chelsea is a big one for us. It’s exciting for us and for the fans.

“It’s a massive game and hopefully, it will put us in a good position.”

She has also called on her teammates to replicate the performance put forth against Arsenal to emerge victorious.

“That was a massive game and effort from us to put ourselves in a good position,” she recalled.

“We were frustrated to lose to them in the Continental Cup semi-final so we wanted to come back and beat them.

“We showed a lot of grit and resilience in that game, coming off the back of the tough game on the Wednesday before playing them on the Sunday at home.

“We showed some good spells in a game that was heightened with a lot of emotion with Nick Cushing leaving – another aspect.

“We showed what we’re all about and what a great team we are; how we can play.

“It’s given us a lot of confidence, going forward.”

City would go four points clear on the table with a victory, while a draw or loss will reduce our chances of securing a second WSL title.