Women's Super League

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Nick Cushing says qualifying for the Women's Champions League is about "the status of the team".

City must beat rivals Manchester United in Sunday's derby at Old Trafford (12:00 BST) to stand a chance of qualifying for next season's competition.

They currently sit four points below United in fourth place and will finish the season without any silverware.

"I suppose there is a knock-on effect [of not getting into the Champions League] which goes far beyond my remit, such as recruitment and retention," said interim manager Cushing.

"But for me, it's about the status of our team. We have worked hard over the last 10-15 years to make sure our football club is at the level that I expect of a Manchester City team.

"Not being in contention [to win] the Champions League is really disappointing and something that is beyond our thinking.

"It's still possible so we have to attack it and make sure we do everything possible to get there. The implications beyond? Who knows. I believe we will get it."

Cushing admits he is "disappointed" he has not been able to deliver more consistency in his short interim spell in charge.

"It is about making sure this team is consistently competing for trophies," he added.

"Now it's a Manchester derby at Old Trafford - I've never done a game at Old Trafford - so for me personally it's an exciting one.

"But the focus is on what we can deliver to try to get into the Champions League."

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United want a "tangible reward" for their hard work this season by qualifying for the Women's Champions League, says manager Marc Skinner.

His side need three points from their final two league games to guarantee a spot in the competition.

United currently sit four points above rivals Manchester City, who they face at Old Trafford on Sunday (12:00 BST).

They end the Women's Super League season at second-placed Arsenal before competing in the Women's FA Cup final on 18 May.

"It has to be the aim and we are not shying away from it. It's a game that Manchester City have to win, and it's a game that we have to win," said Skinner.

"We want to get the reward we feel we deserve. We have been excellent this season considering at the start we had to find out where we were.

"We want that tangible reward, of course we do, but we also have to earn it. Manchester City won't give us that reward.

"We have to take it and that is the mindset I want from our players. If the players give everything, then we give ourselves a chance to win, for sure."

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace manager Leif Smerud hopes the club will learn from their relegation from the Women's Super League and use the experience to help them return to the top flight.

A 7-1 defeat to West Ham on Sunday confirmed Palace's relegation back to the Championship, with Smerud's side rock bottom of the table with just nine points after 20 games.

Palace's first season in the WSL has been sobering, but Smerud has urged the club to use that to their advantage next season.

"The benefit of facing adversity is that if you use it in the right way you can grow from it," the 48-year-old said before Palace's penultimate WSL game against Leicester City on Sunday.

"It will be really important for us as a club to look at what was done, what wasn't done and what can be done better going forward.

"It's a huge learning opportunity for coaches, players and leaders at the club. We should really take care of that and come back stronger.

"If we look at what it takes to be in the league, we now have first-hand experience of it. We need to use that."

As a trained psychologist, Smerud felt the pressure of relegation has affected his players in recent games.

"We played [against West Ham] like there was a lot at stake, you could see the pressure getting to us," he said.

"After that there was a big release, but a lot of uncertainty shows up. What's going to happen to me [players], what's going to happen to the club. What's next.

"We are determined to show a different side of us after that performance which we didn't like at all."

Smerud replaced Laura Kaminski as manager in March, but his future at Palace is uncertain.

When asked about his position he said: "That's not important now at all.

"A lot of things are uncertain for players and the club in many aspects.

"For me we have to wait, the focus is on Leicester. We'll have to come back to these topics later."

Smerud said his players' reaction in training this week has been good, though he has a few injury concerns which will be assessed before Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City head into their final away match of the season hoping to break an unwanted streak.

Amandine Miquel's side, who sit 11th in the table, haven't won a league match on the road since defeating Everton 1-0 on 28 January 2024 – a run of 15 matches.

This season, they've earned just two away points from a possible 30, drawing with Liverpool and Aston Villa in September and October, respectively.

However, while on paper a trip to already relegated Crystal Palace represents a golden opportunity to halt this run, Miquel believes the opposite is true, with the Eagles under "no pressure" and players potentially playing for their WSL futures ahead of the summer transfer window.

"It's not an easy [match]. It's not like because you're playing the team that's been relegated, you're going to win," Miquel said.

"It can be the opposite because they're free and in this situation, players need to show themselves because they might need to look for a new project.

"For me, it's harder to play them now that they know they have no pressure. We'll have to be at our best level to make sure we perform better than them."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea were crowned Women's Super League champions for the sixth successive season after beating Manchester United 1-0 at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night.

Here's what matchwinner Lucy Bronze and manager Sonia Bompastor said after the game:

Defender Lucy Bronze speaking to Sky Sports: "It's hard to focus on so many competitions. We have always said that. We have done fantastically well to keep ourselves in all of them close to the end. It was nice to come here to celebrate a win, celebrate the league title and move forward and past the disappointment of the weekend."

"We have had an up and down season, although the results probably don't show that. It is difficult to come in and build something while not trying to take away from the legacy that Chelsea has always had.

"The second half of the season we have not been at our best. Sonia has done well so far but she wants a lot more from us. And I think we can give it her."

Sonia Bompastor speaking to the BBC: "I feel great. For my first season it feels amazing. I want to thank my players, I want to thank the club to have me on board.

"I was not expecting us to achieve that with two games left. This league is really competitive. It's a big achievement for the club, a big achievement for myself.

"It hurt a little bit to just lost these two games against Barcelona. To be able to bounce back was not easy. We had the character in the team to face that challenge and win tonight and get the title."

Image source, Everton

Everton midfielder Clare Wheeler has signed a new two-year contract with the club, running until the end of June 2027.

The Australia international joined the Toffees in August 2022 and has captained the side in recent weeks.

"I feel really excited," she told the club after putting pen to paper. "It is great to have that trust from the manager to want me to stay and believe in me and this project that we have going on here. I really like this club. I feel really at home here and I'm glad that I get to call it home for a bit longer.

"This team wants to strive for better. With the new owners coming in, there is a buzz around this team, and given our recent performances this year; it is seeing that there is a new chapter coming in.

"I really want to be a part of that and when Brian reached out with the option, it was something I was very interested in and I am really excited for."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers says she wants her team to use the "emotions" from their Champions League semi-final triumph over Lyon on Sunday and turn them into "positive energy" for Wednesday's match with Aston Villa.

The Gunners players were involved in emotional celebrations following their impressive 4-1 victory over the eight-time European champion in the second leg in France, which saw them win 6-2 on aggregate.

"We've been very good in games to regulate our emotions and so I think that's a quality that the team has, so that's going to be needed now as well," said Slegers.

"I also think we don't want to neglect emotions and emotions can be turned into a lot of positive energy. So that's the balance we try to find, to find the perfect preparation for us."

Arsenal need to win against Villa (18:00 BST kick-off) otherwise Chelsea will be able to clinch the WSL title if they beat Man Utd later in the evening.

"[Villa] come from two wins in the league and I think they will be free in the way they will try to take on the game tomorrow," said Slegers.

"So we are very aware of what they can bring to the game and where they come from, so we need to be 100% focused and concentrated on what we need to do."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa captain Rachel Corsie will return from injury for her side's Women's Super League match against Arsenal on Wednesday (18:00 BST kick-off).

The Scotland international has not played this season after being an unused substitute in the opening game of the campaign before having knee surgery in October.

She was initially ruled out for eight weeks but then suffered a setback on her return in January after picking up a calf problem.

Villa manager Natalia Arroyo confirmed Corsie would be in the matchday squad to face the Gunners, who are back in league action following their semi-final win in the Champions League on Sunday.

However, Villa will be without defender Lucy Parker, midfielder Lucy Staniforth and forward Gabi Nunes after they picked up injuries, while defender Paula Tomas has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hip problem.

Image source, Getty Images

Marc Skinner said Manchester United will go "full throttle" in their remaining Women's Super League games as they look to secure a Champions League qualifying spot.

United face Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal in their final three league games and need three points to guarantee a top-three finish.

"It would be lovely but I don't think football works like that," Skinner said when asked about getting the job done against Chelsea on Wednesday (kick-off 20:15 BST).

"In reality we have to prepare that these are three games that we have to try and win. It doesn't matter, regardless of the result against Chelsea. Of course we want to try and win the game but even if we don't we have to try and beat Manchester City and we have to try and beat Arsenal.

"If we win all three games we can potentially finish second. We have to go full throttle in all the games. We know it's tough, we know it's a real challenging end to the season but that's why we're here.

"It would be beautiful and lovely to do all of that but that's not how it works so we have to be prepared for all the games."

Skinner said United will face a Chelsea side hurting from their brutal Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.

Chelsea beat United 1-0 when the sides last met in November and Skinner is excited about the challenge of facing the WSL leaders.

"They want a reaction from the game," he said. "I'm sure they are not happy with the scoreline from both legs.

"I'm sure they will be hurting and we've got to manage that hurt but also make sure we try and do the same to them.

"It's a massive challenge but something we are looking forward to, regardless of what shape they are in. We expect a reaction and have to be ready for that."