This evening marks another potentially historic day for Manchester City Women.

The Blues host Notts County Ladies at the Academy Stadium on the brink of Champions League qualification, and ready to pounce should Chelsea Ladies slip up in the FA Women’s Super League title race.

With so much at stake and with history proving tables can turn in a single moment, manager Nick Cushing hasn’t given up hope of a domestic crown and is taking inspiration from the times City have overcome the odds in the past.

We caught up with the Blues boss ahead of today’s clash.

In Nick Cushing’s words…


To be honest, we’re gutted we’ve reached the season finale already. I did a newspaper interview last week before we played Bristol Academy and I said I wished we had 22 games left rather than two because we’re on such a fantastic run and we’re growing every week.

We always want more games. This team is hungry and we love playing – especially at the Academy Stadium in front of our own fans. The players are in a very good place at the moment and with the chance to secure Champions League football and potentially a league title, they couldn’t be more excited.

Obviously, the title is Chelsea’s to lose but as we know in football, anything can happen. Look at the final day of last season - Liverpool Ladies finished top on goal difference, having started the day in third place!

The men’s team have won the Premier League title twice on the final day as well. It doesn’t get more dramatic than Sergio Aguero’s goal against QPR – and that just shows how quickly things can change.

Sergio

Last season, during our preparations for our Continental Cup final, we took inspiration from the men’s success. We compared our situation with their FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United in 2011. They went into that game ready for a big challenge and they got through it – and in the end so did we in our game against Arsenal.

The FA Cup proved to be a real catalyst for the men’s team for more success because since then, they’ve gone on to win two league titles, a league cup and they compete in the Champions League every year. Hopefully, we can go on to do the same.

Whatever the outcome tonight, it will be a great occasion. We’ll try our best to win the game – as we always do – but as long as the team play well and enjoy themselves, I’ll be happy. We always want the fans to enjoy watching us play too and I think they have done this season.

Our performances since the World Cup have been exceptional and now we really look like a Manchester City team.

We’re playing free-flowing, attacking football and the players can be proud of what they’ve achieved.


Show your support for Manchester City Women and cheer the Blues on to victory against Notts County. MCFC Seasoncard holders and Cityzens Members can claim TWO FREE TICKETS to the game. Details can be found here.