Inside Man City's WSL title-winning season

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The goals that helped crown Man City WSL Champions

Third-placed Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Brighton on Wednesday - one of their three games in hand - was not enough to keep the fight alive and confirmed City's status as England's best this season.

They were crowned champions with a game to spare and a six-point gap to second-placed Chelsea.

So how did Andree Jeglertz's side achieve it?

Having dominated from start to finish, City's title win has been a long time coming.

With no Champions League distractions, they have been able to give the WSL their full attention after a disappointing fourth-placed finish last term.

That has surely helped their cause.

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has spoken of City's squad depth being vital as they have been able to rotate players and keep them fit.

That is a sentiment echoed by many, including former Arsenal defender Jen Beattie, who told the Women's Football Weekly podcast: "I've said for several seasons now that if they kept everyone fit, they would win the league.

"There are so many contributing factors as to why Manchester City are doing so well. They have such a talented group.

"It's difficult to manage that calendar in the Champions League."

Manchester City defender Kerstin Casparij said the absence from European competition is "not the reason why" they have been successful, but it has "definitely helped them" to focus on the WSL.

Top scorer Khadija Shaw believes the same factor sparked a "mentality shift".

Being able to navigate a calmer schedule has been key, added former Manchester City striker Ellen White.

"If you look at last season, they were 17 points behind Chelsea when they won the title. Manchester City were fighting for the Champions League as well," she said.

"That is a big factor for them performing so well this season, as not competing in the Champions League has given them a lot of freedom."

City reached the quarter-finals of last season's Champions League, losing to a Chelsea side who were well beaten in the semi-finals by Barcelona.

Of City's current campaign, White added: "Their priority was winning WSL games. They have also been able to future-proof their squad depth for next season.

"It's a factor. They have been able to push to perform to their best level every week."

'Ambition, quality & hunger' key to title triumph - Jeglertz

Published53 minutes agoThe influence of JeglertzOne of the biggest differences this season has been the arrival of manager Jeglertz.

The Swede joined in the summer, fresh from leading Denmark at Euro 2025, and has injected more creativity in his side.

Under former boss Gareth Taylor, City were tough to beat but played to a rigid structure that some teams had learned how to exploit.

Jeglertz vowed to introduce "adventurous, possession-based" football and has spoken at length about his desire to bring the best out of each player.

"This season we've been playing with a lot more freedom, rather than a [more structured] system," said Shaw, external in March.

"The most important thing is to have fun. It's all about enjoying the moment and, when you lose the ball, go and get it again to express yourself again.

"That's allowed players to go one-v-one, or to shoot from outside of the box. He's allowed us to be more confident in doing it and we've been scoring a lot of goals."

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Andree Jeglertz has managed Denmark and Finland

Jeglertz has also instilled confidence in his players and given them a clear purpose.

He has been filmed throughout the campaign giving his pre-match team talks, which often include reminders of his players' abilities and their ambitions.

The 54-year-old is a calming presence too and interacts regularly with fans at games in an attempt to build a family feel at the club.

"Creating this winning mentality is an important thing for me, because we can play good football but everything is, in the end, about winning," said Jeglertz.

As a result, Brazilian winger Kerolin shone, full-back Casparij was on the scoresheet regularly and England midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown had a breakout campaign.

City went on a 13-game winning streak between September and February and, at one point, had a 12-point lead over Chelsea.

White said: "There's been a huge shift in mentality it seems. Their main goal is winning football games, which has changed.

"For many years it felt more about philosophy and playing beautiful football. That shift has changed."

Tactically, City made adaptations this season.

They were still heavily reliant on controlling possession and building from the back, but they switched it up with direct football at times.

"Everyone knows how we want to play football. We put players in positions where they can be at their best and maximise their performances," said Jeglertz.

"Kerolin and Aoba Fujino have pretty much the same role out wide, but they are totally different players. That is what makes us more unpredictable."

Jeglertz rotated the squad and adapted player positions too.

Blindkilde Brown played as a defensive midfielder, dropping back from her previous number 10 position, while the instrumental Yui Hasegawa pushed further up.

Casparij was a roaming wing-back, Lauren Hemp switched sides up front and Alex Greenwood moved to left-back from centre-back.

"They know what areas we are looking for. The players have different ways of solving that," added Jeglertz.

"It gives the players a feeling that they have so many things they can do. They just know what we are aiming for. It's about having structure that everybody knows."

England forward Hemp said she was "loving" her "more fluid" role up front and gave an insight into what they have been doing on the training ground.

"I end up floating from the left to the right. We have so many people who can score us a goal," said the 25-year-old.

"We've been working a lot on crossing positions and where people need to be in the box. We've scored a lot from that.

"We're also creating chances from midfield and we have lots of ways we can score. You need that in a winning team."

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Yui Hasegawa, Vivianne Miedema, Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp started City's 5-1 win over Chelsea in February

All winning teams need a prolific goalscorer and there are few better than Shaw.

The Jamaica international has netted 19 goals in 21 appearances for City this season, averaging a goal every 97.8 minutes in the WSL.

It is the fourth season in a row she is set to finish as the club's top goalscorer and with a seven-goal lead over the rest of the pack, she is on course to claim a third successive WSL Golden Boot.

Some of Shaw's best performances included a hat-trick against Tottenham and a four-goal haul at home to Aston Villa, as well as scoring an important opener in the 3-2 win over Arsenal in October.

However, she has been well supported by the WSL's all-time leading goalscorer Vivianne Miedema, who has struck 10 times this season playing behind Shaw,

The pair have contributed to 65% of City's goals - the club's total of 58 making them the league's highest scorers.

They have undoubtedly been two of City's key players this season and their fitness has been a major boost.

They missed a combined 37 games through injury in the second half of last season and that had a heavy impact on a trophyless campaign for City.

Equally as important, has been the constant presence of Japan international Hasegawa, who is widely regarded as one of the world's best in midfield.

She has started 19 of City's WSL games, missing only two matches while captaining Japan to the Asian Cup title in March.

Other high performers include Casparij - the Dutch full-back has the joint-most assists (seven) in the WSL this season - and Brazilian winger Kerolin with nine goals and five assists in 14 matches.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester City's stats in the WSL this season

The scary thing is City look capable of dominating for years.

Under director of football Therese Sjogran, who joined in December 2024, they have recruited some of the world's best young talent.

City have lowered the average age of the squad to 24 - the youngest in the WSL this season - and last summer's signings Jade Rose, 23, and Iman Beney, 19, have excelled.

Japan forward Fujino, 22, and Blindkilde Brown, 22, have made their mark, while Mary Fowler, 23, has returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will be ready to participate next season.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jade Rose (left) has had a huge impact since joining Manchester City this season

City have been building a squad they believe are capable of competing with the best in the Champions League next season, adding established USA international Sam Coffey in the January transfer window.

If they can agree a contract extension with Shaw, having already triggered a one-year option in Miedema's deal in February and tied Hasegawa down for a further two years in September, they are in a strong position moving forward.

"They've accrued a group of players over a period of time that are good enough to compete to win the WSL, even before this season," said Manchester United manager Marc Skinner.

"That extra space [in the calendar] - keeping everybody fit - just gives you options. It keeps everybody on their toes."

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