For the second consecutive season, Manchester City have closed out their campaign without adding any new silverware to the cabinet. Gareth Taylor’s Manchester outfit last lifted a trophy in 2022, when they won the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup. The Sky Blues finished the 2023/24 season of the Barclays Women’s Super League in second place, and fell out of both the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cups in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.

Despite coming within touching distance of the Barclays Women’s Super League title, the trophy slipped through the fingers of the Sky Blues, and Chelsea went on to continue their reign as champions. Taylor’s side missed out by a goal difference of seven, finishing their campaign level on points with a dominant Emma Hayes team.

Heading into the final day of the Barclays Women’s Super League, the title was well within their grasp, but Taylor’s Sky Blues would win 2-1 over Aston Villa whilst Chelsea dominated Manchester United 6-0, sealing the fate of the Cityzens as runners-up this time around.

The elite side have faltered, concluding three domestic competitions ‘trophyless’ for the second year running. They will be back in the UEFA Women’s Champions League come the turn of the season, looking to revive their European stature having failed to qualify last time out.

The Cityzens left Villa Park on May 18th deflated, having come so close to tasting victory. This was not the only disappointment this season for the Sky Blues, as they also fell short in both cup competitions, but there are still some positives to be taken away from Manchester City’s run this season under the management of Taylor.

Taylor’s tenets: chasing success

It is hard to believe that Khiara Keating, Manchester City’s goalkeeper, is only 19. Starting consistently for the Cityzens, and pushing for a starting spot in Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses line-up, Keating’s season has been outstanding and the youngster has maturely handled challenging fixtures and helped the Sky Blues to stay close to the top until the very end.

Keating’s ability between the sticks is almost unparalleled, and Taylor’s dedication to the goalkeeper’s development has seen her continue to progress her performance and grow in confidence throughout the season.

Wearing the no. 35 for the Manchester club, Keating kept a total of nine clean sheets and started every single game in the team’s Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.

Keating and Fowler were not the only youthful standouts for the Sky Blues this season. In the midst of Manchester City’s injury struggles, Taylor in many ways found the solution in the form of young talent. Jess Park in particular was presented with a chance to shine across the midfield in the absence of Roord, and the 22-year-old made the most of her opportunity.

Having returned to Manchester following a loan spell at Everton last season, Park was hungry to prove herself. Another player on Wiegman’s radar for the senior England squad, the midfielder gathered up nine goal involvements for the Cityzens in the league, despite only starting nine Barclays Women’s Super League games. The 22-year-old also added two FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup goals to her roster.

Park’s presence as a powerhouse on the pitch have helped Manchester City to dominate the midfield in many of their matches this season. The no. 16 is already a well-rounded player with a natural attacking ability, combined with technique and athleticism.

The Cityzens came so close to tasing success this season, and the role of Taylor’s young prodigies in that cannot be overlooked.

Mary Fowler: Stepping Up

Mary Fowler has been with Taylor’s Manchester side since 2022, and the Australian forward has recently worked her way into the head coach’s starting eleven. The latter half of the season saw the 21-year-old often start on the right wing over Chloe Kelly. This was a bold change by the head coach, as he put his trust in a young talent and gave her the opportunity to really make her mark.

The alteration to Taylor’s line-up had an immediate effect. Fowler gave the Cityzens the lead in the sixth minute of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup quarter-final in March, and gave an impressive performance despite the disappointing end result.

In a press conference earlier this year, the head coach explained his decision in a manner that speaks volumes about his managerial style. It is particularly rare in the women’s game for a head coach to speak openly about a process like this, and Taylor’s approach to the importance of hard work, and rewarding solid efforts, was refreshing to hear.

The Sky Blues boss asserted that “It’s just basically we have good players. We put Mary [Fowler] into the FA Cup game, she scores. She scores against Brighton last week. Mary’s a very good player. She started the first eight or nine games this season for us. Of course, the demands are really high of what we ask for, in kind of goals and assists from those players, without it being all about that. But Mary has taken her opportunity and now what Chloe [Kelly] has to do is work hard every day in training to be ready.“

The manager’s investment in Fowler has certainly paid off. In the Barclays Women’s Super League alone this season, having started 13 games, the forward secured six goals, along with four assists.

Jill Roord: A Stalwart Signing Stunted by Injury

The season was not without its injury-induced challenges for Manchester City. Top goalscorer Bunny Shaw suffered a broken foot in April (having hugely contributed to the club’s positive league position), but Taylor’s side had to overcome obstacles long before that late but brutal blow.

Jill Roord, who had signed for the Cityzens from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer of 2023, was soon sidelined for the remainder of the season. The Dutch star devastatingly suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in January as the Sky Blues triumphed 2-1 over Manchester United in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup.

The midfielder was Taylor’s only signing of the last summer transfer window, and an important one she was. The head coach’s vision and confidence to make one single marquee signing to strengthen his squad was simple, but effective. However, a key signing in the title race transformed, unfortunately, into a key injury.

Losing Roord to a serious knee injury for the remainder of the season following the bittersweet Manchester derby was a huge setback for Manchester City, who were chasing Chelsea at the top of the table in the Barclays Women’s Super League.

Taylor’s singular marquee signing had an instant impact on the club’s from. In the league alone, in just 11 games she scored six goals, also getting two assists under her belt. The versatile 27-year-old was dominating the central midfield for the Cityzens, and her attacking prowess challenged the toughest of oppositions.

As heartbreaking as it was for them to see Roord ruled out with the dreaded ACL injury, Manchester City fans can certainly look forward to what last summer’s super signing can bring to the table upon her eventual return. The player’s determination to come back strong has been consistently clear, as has the unwavering support from the team that has rallied around her on and off the pitch.

Adobe Women’s FA Cup exit: There’s a first time for everything

Despite a promising progression to the competition’s quarter-final, Manchester City would not secure themselves a spot in the semi-final stage of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. A surprise to many, the Sky Blues would be knocked out of the contest by Robert Vilahamn’s Tottenham Hotspur following a tense penalty shootout.

Having taken an early need through Fowler, the Cityzens fell victim to a late Bethany England equaliser, and were unable to claw their way back to a win. Extra time was not enough for the Sky Blues to redeem themselves, and the Spurs would capitalise on the opportunity to edge out the favourites by a slim 4-3 margin on penalties.

The underdog prevailed on this occasion, ending Manchester City’s eight game unbeaten run. Whilst the defeat was especially dispiriting for the Taylor’s side, it also served as a stark reminder to the ‘big four’ that the gap between them and the rest of the table is ever-closing, with the race to clinch silverware changing and growing tighter each year.