Manchester United secure European football while Man City season ends in disappointment
United are ending the WSL season on a high, while City's draw against their rivals wasn't enough for them to secure European qualification next year as the season draws to a close
This weekend marks the final day of the WSL season, and while Manchester City’s season was over on the full time whistle at Old Trafford on Sunday, Manchester United still have it all to play for.
Sunday’s Manchester derby draw saw Marc Skinner’s side secure Champions League qualification for next season while City licked the wounds that have been gaping open since Alex Greenwood, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp got injured.
While just a few weeks ago, third place would’ve been the aim for United, Arsenal’s recent results means Marc Skinner’s side have the chance to take second spot - while they are also a week away from competing in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
We take a look at the latest WSL news across Manchester in what’s been a busy final week of the season.
United
Champions League place
Manchester United Women secured a place in next season’s Champions League with a draw against City.
A draw was all Skinner’s side needed for qualification for just the second time in their history. Skinner’s side didn’t make it easy, having to come back to win the game after going 2-0 down in the first half.
In what was a feisty derby with Aoife Mannion sent off for the Reds, United rallied to earn a point. They are now just a point behind Arsenal in second with the two teams meeting on the final day.
FA Cup final
United’s season isn’t over for domestic competitions however, with a place in the FA Cup final on Sunday May 18th against Chelsea.
It will be a repeat of the 2023 final and Skinner’s side will be looking to defend their crown, and with their momentum in the league continuing, it’s set to be a battle for the ages as Sonia Bompaster looks to complete the double in her first season as Chelsea boss.
City
Milestone reached but target missed
While City couldn’t capitalise on a 10-player Manchester United in the derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, interim head coach Nick Cushing praised the side and found some positives.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Cushing and his team, who’d also been edged out in the FA Cup semi-finals by United and lost to Chelsea in the League Cup final earlier this season.
He said: “For me, the staff, players, everyone involved, it’s about however the game looks, we can find a solution to win, we can do it tactically or with quality but also mentality and character.
“We’ve not been able to deliver that over the last six to eight games, we haven’t won enough games, so we have to take that, but the reality is the margin is really small.
Despite a flat ending to the season, the team reached a huge milestone in scoring 900 goals as a professional side - just a year after they surpassed the 800-goal landmark in an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur.
World Sevens tournament
City join their Manchester rivals in the World Sevens tournament which will be taking place shortly after the domestic season ends.
The tournament will take place at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra in Estoril, Portugal from May 21 to 23 May, where City join seven other top-flight teams in the seven-a-side competition.
Cushing will be leading City, taking both senior and youth players for a chance to play on an international stage.
Beginning with a two-day group phase, a knockout stage and final will then determine the first-ever W7F champion on the third day of competition.
The full line-up of eight teams is FC Rosengard, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Benfica and Manchester United.