'They always deliver' - Man City savour 'magical' title

• Published1 hour ago

For the first time in seven seasons, the ribbons on the Women's Super League trophy are a different shade of blue.

Manchester City are champions again, having ended Chelsea's six-year run as the dominant force at the top of the English pyramid.

A decade on from their first WSL title in 2016, they lifted the coveted trophy for a second time following a 4-1 win at West Ham United in their final league game of a triumphant campaign.

It was a victory lap after the title was confirmed in midweek when Arsenal drew at Brighton, and City's comprehensive win in London came as no surprise to manager Andree Jeglertz, in his debut WSL season after taking charge last July.

"I've stopped being impressed by this team because they always deliver," said the 54-year-old Swede, a four-time league title winner in his homeland with Umea.

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"They are so focused on the task. I am not surprised but I am proud they were able to do that. There are a lot of things going on in this moment and still they put in a good performance."

Alongside pride, Jeglertz noted the "relief" as City finally got their hands on the trophy having led the table since November.

His side held off the challenge from Chelsea and European Champions Arsenal to end their league campaign with a four-point advantage over the second-placed Gunners.

With a chance to complete a Double in the Women's FA Cup final against Brighton on 31 May, City showed why they are deserved champions with a comfortable win at the 10th-placed Hammers.

There was nostalgia to go with dominance as midfielder Laura Coombs scored in her final league game before she retires from playing this summer after 19 years.

"It is pretty magical to be honest," said the midfielder, who has also won the FA Cup and League Cup since she joined the club from Liverpool in 2019.

"I've been here seven years. I think it has been building for a long time. I am going to soak it in.

"I really feel like that I have been part of something."

Coombs' name appears on the wall of the club's new £10m training facility and among a collection of players who have made more than 100 appearances for the club.

"They are really trying to create something for the future," added the former England international. "It is going to be incredible to watch the journey."

One player central to City's success this season is WSL Golden Boot winner Khadija Shaw, whose future at the club remains uncertain amid talk of a move to rivals Chelsea when her contract expires this summer.

Having taken her season's goal tally to 21 with a double against West Ham, the Jamaica striker, 29, refused to give a definitive answer on where she will play next season.

"Manchester is where I would want to be, but ultimately we will see," said Shaw, who also holds the record for the most WSL hat-tricks.

"I just want to enjoy today. It's my first one [title], there have been a lot of emotions.

"It's been a long season of grind, hard work, ups and downs but ultimately we live for these and I can't wait to go and celebrate."

Image source, Getty Images

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Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed

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