Interim manager Nick Cushing believed Manchester City “did enough to win the game” after his side’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the League Cup final.
Yui Hasegawa’s 77th minute own goal was all that separated City, who parted company with Gareth Taylor on Monday, and a Chelsea side unbeaten in all competitions under Sonia Bompastor.
“I want this team to be a threat,” Cushing reflected. “And I want this team to believe that it can be a threat however the game goes, whoever we play. And I hope you could see that. I thought we had multiple moments in their box, I think we put them under pressure many times. I think we had real belief that we could get back into the game after we were 1-0 down. We had a huge chance.
“I think these finals always swing on moments and obviously the moment fell to Chelsea and we didn’t get back in at 2-1. But I’ve seen enough to know that we can be competitive in the next three games. I have the belief that this team can win. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. So it’s tough to lose finals, but you’ve got to dust yourself off and you’ve got to move on.”
Asked how he will pick his players up with three crucial games against Chelsea to come, Cushing said: “That’s mine and the staff’s job to swing this into being motivation rather than almost the deflation of losing or the fear that we’re playing a better team.
“For me, I’m quite a simple guy. This feeling that you get when you’re losing finals, if that’s not enough motivation to take you into the next game, then we’re playing the wrong game, right?
“And if watching that game back doesn’t give you the belief that you can go and win, we did enough to win the game today with many, many moments. And I was proud of that. I think we could see some slight adjustments in the way that we want to play and that made us more of a threat.”
Cushing provided an update on Bunny Shaw after she was replaced in the second half, with Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea looming. “We’ll look at her, we’ll obviously leave her with the medical team. She’s a really important player for us, so hopefully she’ll be ready for Wednesday, but if not, we’ll find a solution.”
