Much like England’s Lionesses this summer, Manchester City are experiencing a changing of the guard. Players with a long-established calling in sky blue have departed, while exciting new talent has made its way through City’s revolving door.
The recruitment team have been busy – prudently so. A fresh, youthful exuberance has begun to engulf the air as the buzz of a new Women’s Super League season permeates the Academy Ground on the outskirts of Manchester.
It’s Manchester City’s annual broadcast media day, and the spirits of players are neatly matched by the bright lights of numerous cameras, flashing around the dome as pictures are routinely taken.
Some pose eagerly, others are more understated, but the general energy is relaxed. Optimistic, but not over-confident. A glint of anticipation is present as players move from station to station, giving interviews before engaging in the latest TikTok dance trend for social media.
The room, a hive of activity by 1.30pm, is littered with triumphant Lionesses, all of whom have an additional spring in their step after a momentous summer on the international stage. They each take it in turns to recant some of their tales from Euro 2022, smiling as they relive the jubilation.
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The general mood is unmistakably cheery. Football’s equivalent of Christmas Eve, as excitement and suspense both build before reaching their crescendo on opening weekend.
“We’re happy with the players we’ve acquired,” manager Gareth Taylor began, attempting to offset the fact that his squad has also said goodbye to Lucy Bronze, Georgia Stanway, Caroline Weir and belatedly Keira Walsh in the latest transfer window.
“We’ve lost a lot of experience as well.” The Man City boss followed up on his opening gambit with a dose of realism, despite being outwardly pleased with the club’s seven new acquisitions.
Commanding a world-record fee, Walsh’s late move to Barcelona represents a significant blow to City’s progress. Perhaps the biggest setback City could suffer a matter of days out from their opening game of the season – which was postponed as a mark of respect following the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.
Walsh joined City as a teenager in 2014, before featuring 211 times in all competitions across an eight-year span – lifting a total of eight trophies. Her midfield presence will be difficult, near impossible, to replace.
In one window, City have lost all three of their starting midfield trio, with one of them even delivering an early Champions League exit having scored the winning goal in a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in August. Weir’s celebration left very little to the imagination – a clear indication her commitment to City has long deserted her.
“I think it’s going to take a little bit of time,” Taylor continued. “But what we feel we have done is invested in the future. We’ve slightly altered the average age of the squad.
“Younger players, who we think are going to be very good players for Manchester City.
“We’ve signed talented players. Going forward, with what we can offer here, these players are going to be exciting.
“What I’ve said previously is that it will be better if we can limit the amount of disturbance, or surgery in the squad. In the WSL, you don’t get much time to prepare.
“The women’s game is changing a lot. It’s changing right in front of us. This is a highly competitive league. One of the most difficult leagues to win because you have to be flawless.
“The fact that it is only 22 games, you cannot afford to drop off. You can see why players are attracted to that. The level of competition means that players want to play here.
“We’re happy with the business that we’ve done.”
In football, fortunes can change as quickly as the wind. Feelings of pre-season anticipation and exhilaration can quickly fade if results transpire against you.
Taylor’s side, whose season was blighted by peaks and troughs last term, know all too well how rapidly circumstances can forge to become destructive. It was a cautionary tale.
City lost four of their first 10 league fixtures in 2021/22. It put the possibility of a second WSL crown beyond them before the season had even reached its midway point. They recovered admirably, finishing third, but nine points separated them and eventual champions Chelsea.
This season, Taylor’s side want and expect to upset the hierarchy. Work over the summer has been diligent. It’s lifted the weight off certain individual shoulders.
The sparkle of Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly has been supplemented by emerging, but “exciting”, European talent. The average age of City’s new recruits is 23. It marks a considerable change in the staffing strategy – something Taylor describes as “future-proofing” the club.
Incomings have included three players from the Spanish top-flight, Leila Ouahabi and fellow defender Laia Aleixandri from Barca, as well as forward Deyna Castellanos from Atletico Madrid. Japanese international midfielder Yui Hasegawa was also drafted in on Deadline Day, following the departure of Walsh.
So, how quickly can City’s new-look crop adapt to the demands of the WSL? And will it be in time for their curtain-raiser against Aston Villa on September 18.
“It’s a tough opening sequence but positive results in those games potentially sets us up for the rest of the season,” Taylor continued. “We’ve got to play them at some stage, but they’ve also got to play us.
“I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t be competing for the WSL’s top spots. I don’t see any huge changes in what we’re likely to see. We want to be there and we’re one of the teams that feel we can be there.
“Barring our injury crisis, we proved last season that we can be pretty relentless in our pursuit of results.”
Limbering up for the new WSL season took a backseat for some over the summer months, as Euro 2022 fever whipped the nation into a frenzy – culminating in 90,000 people lifting the roof off Wembley Stadium as City forward Kelly stabbed an extra-time decider into the back of Germany’s net to seal England’s first ever European honours.
It was a moment Taylor particularly enjoyed, not least because the 24-year-old is once again fit and available for City having missed the majority of last term with a knee problem.
“There’s big changes happening in the women’s games. England winning that competition has given everyone a real boost and a real impetus to drive the game forward.
“At the moment it feels like it is accelerating at a high level in all areas. Clubs are looking to be bullet-proof in terms of what they’re trying to do.
“The exposure on television and the accessibility of being able to watch all games across the Euros was a real positive. I’ve got many friends and family who immensely enjoyed the Euros.
“Young players, young girls, watching that will be inspired. Their heroes have gone out and won a tournament.”
The pride etched on Taylor’s face was immense as he began regaling over the Lionesses summer conquest. And just at that precise moment England and City starlet Hemp, known for her immaculate timing on the pitch, unassumingly entered the room where interviews were continuing to gather pace.
“Take Hemp as an example,” Taylor continued, as he caught the silhouette of the 22-year-old in his eyeline. “She’s a really humble person.
“They will have had a lot of interaction with the media off the back of their success. I’m sure that has been quite zapping for them because they have been away for two months and suddenly they are being asked to be in Grazia magazine.
“Which I’m sure they really enjoyed. But our plan for them is to try and get them back onto club mode. Give them a bit more time.”
Time is something in precious little supply in the women’s game as City hurtle towards their season opener against Villa, hot on the heels of England’s Euros win.
City managed to get the better of neighbours Manchester United in the battle for third place last season, but expect that to be the very minimum requirement this term.
“We’ve got a lot to offer,” Taylor concluded. Just where that will land City, after a transformative summer of movement and change, remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure, eyes are locked firmly on the pursuit of top prize.
How to follow the WSL on Sky Sports…
Sky Sports – All 35 games will be available across Sky Sports’ flagship channels, including Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
Sky Sports News – Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Barclays FA WSL fans can enjoy Sky Sports News (channel 409) rolling editorial coverage of the league and its storylines throughout the season.
Inside the WSL – Hosted by award-winning broadcaster and journalist Jessica Creighton, Inside the WSL is a comprehensive round-up of all things Barclays FA Women’s Super League and women’s football. Airing weekly on Sky Sports Premier League, the half-an-hour show will review and preview matches, including in-depth analysis and exclusive player interviews. Viewers can expect gripping behind-the-scenes access as well as a summary of all the action both on and off the pitch.
Sky Sports Social – Alongside coverage and visibility for the league across all Sky Sports’ main social media channels, the bespoke Twitter channel @SkySportsWSL will continue to be the home of all Barclays FA WSL content on Sky Sports.
New to the 2022/23 season, the Sky Sports WSL TikTok account will be giving fans 360? coverage of the league and granting them exclusive access to their new favourite players. Also a first for the league, a new Snapchat Discover show The Dub aims to become the platform’s new hub for Barclays’ WSL content.
Sky Showcase – All Sky customers will benefit from being able to watch the opening weekend fixtures on Sky Showcase (channel 106) without a Sky Sports subscription. This channel is designed to curate some of the top shows, films and sports from across Sky’s channels.
Sky Sports digital – Follow all the latest from the WSL across SkySports.com and app, including exclusive features and interviews, plus dedicated live blog coverage and in-game clips from games live on Sky Sports. You can watch free match highlights from every WSL game this season on Sky Sports’ digital platforms and YouTube channel.