“It’s about time,” said Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor after his first Women’s Super League (WSL) win over Chelsea since being appointed three years ago.
The closest he had previously come was in April 2021, when a 2-2 home draw in the third-last game led to City missing out on the title to Chelsea by those two dropped points. “Outside of that,” Taylor said, “it has not been great.”
With six games left in their WSL season, Sunday’s 2-0 defeat of the visiting champions was a “big step”, according to Taylor. Only goal difference now separates City (plus 20) and league leaders Manchester United (plus 33), Chelsea are one point behind them both but have a game in hand.
“Chelsea win the title if we don’t win (today),” said Taylor, who felt if the result had gone the other way the gap would be too big to close with so few matches remaining. City’s victory — their first over Chelsea in the league since May 2017 — has opened up the title race, with just three points covering the top four. Arsenal are two adrift of Chelsea having played the same number of games.
“The girls were under no illusions today,” said Taylor. “We spoke all week about it: ‘We have to win this game’.”
City looked slick and took the game to Chelsea. Their press was…
