New Look Manchester City Women, But Is It The Same Old Story?

One other journey to Chelsea, one other defeat for Manchester Metropolis Ladies. Friday’s 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge appeared to have the hallmarks of one other loss on the residence of the Champions. Metropolis have visited Chelsea 22 occasions within the WSL and have misplaced 14 occasions, whereas profitable simply six.

It’s a well-recognized story – Metropolis toil, Chelsea take the lead, heads drop and the house aspect take the factors. The one time that hasn’t occurred was February 2024, when Bunny Shaw’s solitary strike within the first half claimed teh factors for the Blues.

It was a uncommon residence defeat for the champions and a good rarer victory for Metropolis, away to their predominant WSL rivals. Over time, Metropolis have had no reply to Chelsea’s dominance, other than the 24/25 season, when the Blues got here agonisingly near ending Chelsea’s declare on the WSL title.

And, after 31 minutes on Friday, it regarded like the identical previous story. Solely this time, it wasn’t.

This new look Metropolis aspect have additionally had a brand new struggle injected into them. Reasonably than occurring the defensive, defending their objective and decreasing the chance of a hammering, Metropolis didn’t let their heads drop. As an alternative, they attacked with venom, placing Chelsea on the ropes, significantly within the second half, when the Blues had probabilities to stage.

Even when the hosts went 2-0 up, Metropolis continued to press, feeling like they might get one thing out of the match. Granted, it was an personal objective, scored with Niamh Charles below little or no stress, that gave Metropolis hope, but it surely was a catalyst that confirmed Metropolis will not go down and not using a struggle.

It’s the type of power in opposition to groups like Chelsea, Arsenal and United that has been sadly missing lately below Gareth Taylor, and an injection of willpower had not solely turn out to be vital, however crucial if Metropolis are to as soon as once more problem for the WSL title.

On Friday night, the Blues fought effectively, with Yui Hasegawa virtually celebrating her new contract with a objective. On a few events, the Japanese star was denied by Hannah Hampton and likewise noticed a intelligent flick drift painfully previous the far put up. However the midfielder typified the struggle, the power and want to win that lastly crammed the engine room.

Defensively, Metropolis should be higher and shifting Alex Greenwood to a full-back place, when she has spent virtually her total Metropolis profession in the course of defence, might not have been the perfect tactic. She was up in opposition to Ellie Carpenter, Chelsea’s new signing, and the 25-year-old right-back was given the liberty to cost ahead at each alternative. at 32, Greenwood struggled to maintain up with the Australian and it confirmed on many events.

Nonetheless, being up in opposition to among the finest attacking defenders within the WSL received’t occur each week, but it surely did expose Greenwood as being prone to tempo on the wing, and new boss Andree Jeglertz should rethink his technique by the point Brighton arrive on Friday.

It was Greenwood’s lack of tempo that helped for the second objective, along with Metropolis leaving Maika Hamano utterly unmarked inside the world, one other headache for Jeglertz to unravel.

However, regardless of the defeat and apparent defensive frailties, the indicators had been there for Metropolis, and it might be silly to base the season on only one match in opposition to the defending champions. Certainly, there have been feedback on Friday that Chelsea would ‘stroll the league’ once more, however, in soccer, nothing is for certain.

The Blues have some work to do and can want a while, not just for the brand new gamers to begin gelling collectively, but in addition to grasp what Jeglertz desires from them.

This can be a new period for Manchester Metropolis Ladies and if Friday’s efficiency alone is something to go by, then we are going to quickly be in for an thrilling time on the Joie Stadium.