A heavy emphasis is placed on the engine room at City, providing an essential link in our build-up play while also pressing high up the pitch to regain possession when called upon.
The ability to grab the occasional goal is also certainly an added bonus, and something that our midfielders have been able to do when it matters.
In this segment of our Season in Review it’s time for Laura Coombs, Yui Hasegawa and Filippa Angeldahl‘s performances to be put under the microscope, as well as those of departing midfielder, Vicky Losada.
Take a read below about the influence our engine room had this season…
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LAURA COOMBS
The longest serving midfielder in Taylor’s ranks, Coombs’ experience and leadership has not gone unnoticed in helping her team-mates develop their own game.
The England international also played an important role at the sharp end of the pitch, tallying five goals and four assists in the WSL in the process - the best return of her career so far.
But among several strong showings, Coombs’ stand-out performances was at the Etihad in December 2022 against Manchester United.
The 32-year-old scored our equaliser in the 1-1 draw, heading past Mary Earps to top off an impressive individual performance.
A two-year contract extension in February 2023, and a return to the England squad for the first time since November 2020 were just rewards for those exploits.
YUI HASEGAWA
Playing in a deeper role during her first season at City following a summer move from West Ham United, Hasegawa’s artillery of attributes helped her become one of our standout performers across the campaign.
The Japan international attempted 1126 passes, with a completion rate of 89%. She won 83 duels while also making 38 tackles and 40 interceptions, defining the art of a deep-lying midfielder.
Hasegawa didn’t need time to adapt to her new surroundings, grabbing a goal in a player of the match display on her debut, as City beat Leicester 4-0 in October.
She showed the importance of positioning off the ball, helping shift play from one side of the pitch to the other and regaining possession high up the pitch as City dominated at the Academy Stadium.
FILIPPA ANGELDAHL
The Sweden international became a key figure for City in her second campaign in Manchester.
Defensively, she won 64 duels and consistently demonstrated her importance at protecting the back four alongside Hasegawa throughout the campaign.
However, it’s at the sharp end where she flourished, scoring spectacular goals against Bristol City and Chelsea after the new year.
It’s the latter which really grabbed the headlines in what was an irrepressible performance from Angeldahl.
In that 2-0 win over Chelsea at the Academy Stadium, the 25-year-old found the net with a spectacular, dinked finish to give City the lead.
Strikes such as this are an indication of the exciting future the Swede has ahead, with City exercising a one-year extension on her contract in June 2023.
Vicky Losada
The Spanish midfielder’s season was frustrated by injuries, but she still showed her importance whenever called upon for Gareth Taylor‘s side before a move to Roma in February 2023.
Featuring six times in all competitions, Losada found the net twice and also grabbed an assist in the first half of the campaign.
While her time at the Club would come to an end before season’s end, Vicky’s influence on the squad, both on and off the field, has left a lasting impression on Gareth Taylor‘s side.
