There’s a chance the Manchester City Joie Stadium announcer meant nothing by it. “Our next home WSL match is against Chelsea. Come out and support us as we continue on our title challenge.” Maybe, as City fans left their seats after the 2-0 Women’s Super League (WSL) win over Everton, the short announcement failed to register. But it certainly felt like a development. Because at what point did we get here? When did City finally accept they are in a title race? There’s a relief that comes with th
“Our next home WSL match is against Chelsea. Come out and support us as we continue on our title challenge.”
Maybe, as City fans left their seats after the 2-0 Women’s Super League (WSL) win over Everton, the short announcement failed to register. But it certainly felt like a development. Because at what point did we get here? When did City finally accept they are in a title race?
There’s a relief that comes with this territory for City, shaking off footballing politeness and slipping into those comfy only-for-home joggers. No more claims that no one looks at the WSL table; that all eyes are on the next game and nothing more.
The last timeThe Athletic analysed City’s title chances back in November, a mere point separated City from Chelsea. And while City were rightly sitting top, none of the top four looked convincing, which meant every fanbase barring Chelsea’s had consigned themselves to the notion that Chelsea would once again reign supreme.
That fatalism wasn’t without logic. The sight of former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes publicly waving the white flag to City live on Sky Sports in May 2024 after her side’s 4-3 defeat to Liverpool in May with a mere three league matches to go lives long in the memory — mostly for how she then seized that flag two weeks later, twirled it around her head and discoed goodbye to the WSL with Chelsea’s fifth title on the trot secured.
Six points separated City and Chelsea then. Six points separate them now. But these six points feel more impervious for City who, since losing to Chelsea on the opening weekend, have won all 11 WSL matches.
As City prodded a stubborn defensive Everton shape that held Chelsea to their first WSL defeat under head coach Sonia Bompastor, there was no gurgling angst or arm flapping. This was 9-to-5 football, an administrative assistant filling out a tricky form. Everton goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan periodically got her hand in the way but it was nothing a little quality from an attack of Kerolin (who started her first WSL match of the season), Lauren Hemp, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Vivianne Miedema can’t solve.
“The most important thing for a player and for a team is self-confidence,” City head coach Andree Jeglertz said post-match. “That’s what you can see in this group right now. We know what we’re doing, we trust and believe in it. As long as we follow that, we’ll create scoring chances and win games.”
This has been part of City’s strength this season, as has their depth — something former manager Gareth Taylor neglected to build on, preferring a smaller, more intimate squad that often fell to injuries and exhaustion. This season, City are multi-faceted, helped in part by not playing in Europe while teams around them push squads to breaking point. But that hasn’t halted City from honing and adding. They are closing in on a deal to bring in USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey this window.
“The key is no matter how many good players I have, there will always be room for them in this group,” Jeglertz said.
It is a kind of flex of depth more historically associated with peak Chelsea, along with other intangible virtues like defensive grit, attacking grind, and sharing goal-scoring responsibility. City still lead the WSL in number of goalscorers (12, followed by Chelsea with 11), despite having the most lethal goal guarantor at their disposal in Shaw. The Jamaica international boasts 12 goals, six more than her nearest Golden Boot rival (Aston Villa’s Kirsty Hanson) and seven more than any player from City’s title rivals.
Which begs the question, who is City’s title rival? Chelsea cut the most convincing figure capable of offering any kind of resistance. Chelsea travel to City on January 21 for the League Cup semi-final, then again on February 1 for the WSL. Their 5-0 thrashing of West Ham United on Sunday felt like a statement.
The same cannot be said for Manchester United or Arsenal much longer, both 10 and 11 points behind City respectively after their goalless draw on Saturday at the Emirates.
The game was microcosmic: Arsenal failing to make possession count; United valiantly organised like a tourniquet, more so when Jayde Riviere was sent off for a second caution, but never a thought as to how to make anyone else bleed. Neither team has claimed victory over a top-four side.
The consequence: a desperate scrapping for third place and a shot at Champions League football for the remaining months.
The implications of losing out sit heavily. Both clubs are engaged in crucial negotiations with current players, as well as potential summer signings. A failure to secure Champions League football would greatly impact the clubs.
Arsenal are aware of the wider infrastructure and hierarchical complications surrounding them, which The Athletic outlined here. Jodie Taylor’s appointment as technical director is a bid to improve the systems surrounding the team and deliver where they have been unable to since 2019.
Marc Skinner’s side has bulked up with the arrivals of right-back Hanna Lundkvist from Hammarby and Germany forward Lea Schuller from Bayern. A pursuit for forward Ellen Wangerheim from Hammarby remains ongoing. But an impressive first season in the Champions League could end without it next season if United don’t capitalise on Arsenal’s league slip-ups. And who in United’s boardroom is taking a moment to pause, sweating over back fours and the definition of a head coach, to ensure they have a shot at taking advantage.
For now, the top-four race has been split in two: title contenders City chased by Chelsea, with Arsenal and United scrapping below so as not to be left behind.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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