Knaak’s tears, Jeglertz’s calm, Shaw’s goals: the story of Manchester City’s WSL title triumph

After 10 years without a Women’s Super League title, City are champions once more – here’s how they did it The sight of Rebecca Knaak fighting back tears on hearing the full-time whistle last Sunday summed up what this means. The Manchester City defender had sustained a painful shoulder injury during a victory over Liverpool snatched by her late header so probably had her own reasons for finding the combination of relief, soreness and joy a little overwhelming. But her emotions could have been felt by any of the longer-serving season-ticket holders in the stands after a decade-long wait for a Women’s Super League title. When City lifted this trophy in 2016, the landscape of the English women’s game was wholly different. It was a time before the wider, full-time professionalism of the league and the influx of overseas talent.

After 10 years without a Women’s Super League title, City are champions once more – here’s how they did it T he sight of Rebecca Knaak fighting back tears on hearing the full-time whistle last Sunday summed up what this means. The Manchester City defender had sustained a painful shoulder injury during a victory over Liverpool snatched by her late header so probably had her own reasons for finding the combination of relief, soreness and joy a little overwhelming. But her emotions could have been felt by any of the longer-serving season-ticket holders in the stands after a decade-long wait for a Women’s Super League title. When City lifted this trophy in 2016 , the landscape of the English women’s game was wholly different. It was a time before the wider, full-time professionalism of the league and the influx of overseas talent.

The top three players in the league for goal contributions (goals plus assists) this season play for City: Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Kerolin. City won all 11 WSL home games, becoming the third team since the WSL got started in 2011 to end with a 100% home record after Chelsea in 2019-20 and 2022-23. They have scored the winning goal in league games in the 74th minute or later six times, with four coming beyond the 85th minute. City won both league derbies 3-0, first in mid-November at the Etihad, when they were so dominant they stopped United registering an effort on target. Those derbies were in the middle of pairs of midweek Champions League games for United and exemplify how City benefited, domestically, from not being in Europe.

City have been the WSL’s best team but, in a league where fine margins often settle games, that extra rest has been key. The title win brings a place in the league phase of the Champions League, although next season the advantage for sides not playing in Europe could be reduced because, for the first time, the League Cup group-stage games are to be on the same midweek nights as the Champions League to maintain consistency, and those in Europe will not be in the League Cup. It will now be fascinating to see whether City can be competitive into the latter stages in the Champions League, a competition they have never won. In 2019-20, the campaign curtailed by the pandemic, City accumulated more points than the champions, Chelsea, but missed out on points-per-game. Explore more on these topics Share Reuse this content After 10 years without a Women’s Super League title, City are champions once more – here’s how they did it The sight of Rebecca Knaak fighting back tears on hearing the full-time whistle last Sunday summed up what this means.

The Manchester City defender had sustained a painful shoulder injury during a victory over Liverpool snatched by her late header so probably had her own reasons for finding the combination of relief, soreness and joy a little overwhelming. But her emotions could have been felt by any of the longer-serving season-ticket holders in the stands after a decade-long wait for a Women’s Super League title. When City lifted this trophy in 2016, the landscape of the English women’s game was wholly different. It was a time before the wider, full-time professionalism of the league and the influx of overseas talent. Knaak’s tears, Jeglertz’s calm, Shaw’s goals: the story of Manchester City’s WSL title triumph