Manchester City’s performance against Chelsea in the WSL was described as both ruthless and impressive. Leaving their manager Andree Jeglerz speechless. With an 11-point lead at the top of the table, City's 5-1 victory over their biggest rivals at the Etihad Stadium confirms the title race. This was Chelsea's first back-to-back WSL loss in nearly 11 years.
The stars for Man City aligned. After the previous two meetings this season, going Chelsea's way, they had the determination to get one back. Kerolin City's secret weapon, who was unavailable for the League Cup semi-final fixture between these two sides. The Brazilian international had a standout performance. Scoring a hat-trick that included a deflected opener, a solo run from inside her own half and a close-range finish.
She was not the only one who shone for the home side. Vivianne Miedema and Bunny Shaw contributed to the scoreline, highlighting City’s attacking depth and versatility. Shaw continues to lead the WSL goalscoring charts.
Jeglertz reflected: “That was the first time I said to the players — ‘actually I don’t know what to say.’ I am proud of the performance and what they were able to do, and seeing the players enjoying the game. There is this feeling that a lot of people were expecting us to perform,m and they managed it. It's amazing.”
Manchester City dominated Chelsea from the start, taking the lead in the 13th minute when Kerolin capitalised on a defensive lapse. Khadija Shaw made it 2–0 before half-time by exploiting Chelsea’s errors, and Kerolin completed a hat-trick early in the second half with a solo run and a finish from a Lauren Hemp cross. Alyssa Thompson briefly responded for Chelsea, but Vivianne Miedema restored City’s four-goal cushion to secure a 5–1 victory.
City were clinical, combining high pressing, quick transitions, and attacking width. Their forwards, Kerolin, Shaw, and Miedema, exploited defensive gaps while the team maintained composure under pressure. Chelsea struggled to control possession, made repeated defensive mistakes, and failed to adapt to City’s dominance. Injuries to Lucy Bronze and Aggie Beever-Jones also weakened their performance.
The match highlighted City’s confidence and tactical flexibility, while Chelsea’s body language reflected declining morale and squad depth issues. City’s win confirmed their status as the league’s leading team andemphasisedd their ruthlessness and consistency this season.
Many have said the title is over, and after this result, it definitely feels that way. Jeglertz praised his squad: “The pressure is there from [the media], saying that we've won the league, and the team is coming out and handling it marvellously. This belief the team has at the moment, that we will find a way to win, is a thing we can also use in the future.”
Consistency has been a key ingredient to City’s dominance. Jeglertz’s calm leadership, regardless of results, has been mirrored by the players’ composed performances. The team adhered strictly to their game plan against Chelsea despite heightened expectations, demonstrating tactical discipline and mental strength.
Jeglertz has encouraged players to express creativity and personality on the pitch, allowing them flexibility within a structured system. This approach has fostered confidence, enabling City to dominate games and maintain attacking flair.
City’s 5–1 win marked their 13th consecutive WSL victory, extended their scoring streak to 28 games, and inflicted one of Chelsea’s joint-largest defeats in WSL history. The performance underscored their status as clear title favourites and a significant improvement from last season, when they finished 17 points behind Chelsea.
Add comment
Comments