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    • Women’s Super League 2024-25 Preview No. 9: Manchester City | Women’s Super League 2024-25 Preview
    Tennessee

    Women’s Super League 2024-25 Preview No. 9: Manchester City | Women’s Super League 2024-25 Preview

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    Expected position of the Guardian authors: 2. (Note: This is not necessarily Tom Garry’s prediction, but the average of our authors’ picks.)

    Position last season: 2

    The plan

    Manchester City were devastated last season when they failed to secure their first WSL title since 2016 by missing out on goal difference and will be desperate to end that wait. They come into the race as one of the strong favorites and this summer added WSL record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema to their attacking ranks, which already included last season’s Golden Boot winner Bunny Shaw. That’s an impressive looking combination.

    However, they are strongest at the back. In the 22 league games last season they conceded just 15 goals, the fewest in the division. This defensive success begins with their dominance of possession, for which they had the highest average percentage (60%) in the WSL last season, orchestrated by the complex interplay between defensive midfielder Yui Hasegawa and their technically gifted center backs Alex Greenwood and Laia Aleixandri , which allows the team to survive any press.

    They also have great pace on the wings, thanks in no small part to English duo Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly, and have received a significant boost with the return of Dutch attacking midfielder Jill Roord, supporting head coach Gareth Taylor. said Monday she is “very close” to returning to competition after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January. England midfielder Jess Park is also finding excellent form. The club have finished painfully second on seven occasions – including six times against Chelsea – and there is a growing feeling that it is time for this team to finally fulfill their potential. However, they haven’t had the easiest of starts as they faced Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – the other teams in the top four last season – in their first four away games.