Chelsea defeated Manchester City to win the Women’s League Cup and secure a first trophy under Sonia Bompastor as Yui Hasegawa’s own goal settled an entertaining final at Pride Park.
Mayra Ramirez bundled in the opening goal for the Blues after just seven minutes but Nick Cushing’s City were the better side up until half time in terms of possession and chances.
Chelsea settled after the break, but were then taken by surprise as Aoba Fujino’s swerving shot found the top corner from the angle. Hannah Hampton redeemed herself moments later with a crucial stop to deny Khadija Shaw.
And Chelsea then struck late on as Ramirez’s cross from the right was sliced in by the unfortunate Hasegawa, with the ball looping in off her foot as she looked to clear and beating Ayaka Yamashita.
The result continues Chelsea’s unbeaten season under Bompastor but City will look to strike back when they host the Blues in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday
Chelsea vs Man City LIVE: Latest Women's League Cup final updates
- Chelsea defeat Man City in Women's League Cup final
- 77’ GOAL! Hasegawa’s own goal puts Chelsea back ahead (CHE 2-1 MCI)
- 64’ GOAL! Fujino’s strike brings City an equaliser (CHE 1-1 MCI)
- 60’ SAVE! Yamashita stands tall and blocks Rytting-Kaneryd’s attempt (CHE 1-0 MCI)
- 27’ CHANCE! Ramirez should make it 2-0 but fizzes a shot into the side netting (CHE 1-0 MCI)
- 21’ Hampton denies Fujino with strong hands (CHE 1-0 MCI)
- 8’ GOAL! Mayra Ramirez opens scoring with scrappy finish (CHE 1-0 MCI)
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze speaking on BBC One:
14:45 , Mike Jones"We have a spa day recovery tomorrow as we play again on Wednesday - and again and then again.
"We want to enjoy it but have to be smart. Silverware is what matters it was important to get one trophy in the bank, that means the season is a success.
"I throw myself around all the time, I didn't ask for a penalty once when i got booked! The pitch didn't help - just look at it.
"We can play any conditions and mix it up, we would love to play more football but that wasn't on today.
"In the modern game, players neglect defending but Millie Bright doesn't let that happen. We are very focused on defending, we pride ourselves on it."
One down, three to go
14:42 , Mike JonesThese two teams play each other four times inside 12 days.
The first was today in the League Cup final, there are two clashes in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and a WSL clash as well.
Chelsea won the first game. Can Man City respond on Wednesday?
Millie Bright reacts to Chelsea win
14:38 , Mike JonesChelsea captain Millie Bright spoke about finally winning the League Cup after losing the last three finals.
She stold the BBC: "We are buzzing. Things like that stick in your mind for a long time, it's certainly been doing my head in. We are really happy, it's the start that we wanted into these next four fixtures.
"It was always going to be a tight game. They had chances, we had chances. We defended really well front to back and should have put a couple more chances away. The mentality to never give in is something that Chelsea have had in their DNA for a long time. We always find a way to win whether it's a good day or a bad day."
Chelsea win the Women's League Cup
14:28 , Mike JonesMillie Bright grins widely as she picks up the trophy.
She carries it to her teammates and hoists it into the air!
The party poppers go off and the celebrations begin.
Chelsea are the 2025 Women’s League Cup winners!
Chelsea trophy presentation
14:27 , Mike JonesSonia Bompastor leads the winning Chelsea side up to collect their gold medals.
Many of these players lost the league cup final last year so it’s a positive turnaround for them.
As expected there are smiles aplenty as the players shake hands and collect their medals.
Millie Bright will bring up the rear and collect the trophy on her way.
Man City squad receive medals
14:25 , Mike JonesThe losing Manchester City squad head up to the presentation podium and collect their runners-up medals.
It’s the walk no-one wants to make ahead of time. City played well but were beaten by a more clinical team.
They face Chelsea again in the week for a Champions League quarter-final when they’ll want to inflict defeat on today’s victors.
'Chelsea played the conditions'
14:23 , Mike JonesFormer England striker, Ellen White, said: “I think Chelsea played the conditions.
“We spoke about the pitch, Chelsea used it to their advantage. They didn't play pretty football but they adapted. They suffered, they scored goals.
“This game is great for them, they will think 'we've done it, now move on.'
“Tick that one off and move to the next one.”
Chelsea win the Women's League Cup
14:21 , Mike Jones
'Bompastor joins serial winners'
14:19 , Mike JonesRachel Brown-Finnis, an ex-England goalkeeper, reacts to Chelsea’s win on BBC One.
She said: “Bompastor joins a collection of serial winners.
“It's her first trophy and probably not her last of the season with Chelsea.
“You can't argue that Chelsea didn't deserve it.”
Chelsea win the Women's League Cup
14:15 , Mike JonesThis is the 15th piece of silverware that is being added to Chelsea’s trophy cabinet.
It is the first time in four years that the Blues have won the League Cup.
Emma Hayes didn’t manage to win this trophy in any of her final three years at the club.
A perfect start for Sonia Bompastor.
Full-time! Chelsea 2-1 Man City
14:14 , Jamie BraidwoodA very respectful handshake between Sonia Bompastor and Nick Cushing - you wouldn’t know that the French coach had just won her first trophy with Chelsea!
She will know that she has to face Manchester City three more times in the next 12 days, and that her team were second best for long spells today.
But Chelsea do what they do best: win. The first of potentially four trophies for the Blues this season, and their first success in this competition since 2021.
Full-time! Chelsea 2-1 Man City
14:12 , Mike Jones90+3 mins: Chelsea have done it!
Sonia Bompastor has her first piece of silverware as head coach of the London side.
Yui Hasegawa’s own goal was the difference between the teams.
Three goals in the game; two for Chelsea, one for Man City mean this thrilling final ends favourably Millie Bright’s team.
Chelsea are victorious.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
14:09 , Mike Jones90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
14:08 , Mike Jones88 mins: Jill Roord pulls the trigger from a long way out.
She drills the effort straight at Hannah Hampton who scoops it up without too much trouble.
A couple of minutes in the 90 left to play.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
14:04 , Mike Jones83 mins: Chelsea are defending in a low block and obviously feel they have enough quality to keep City at bay.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
14:00 , Mike Jones80 mins: That goal could end up being decisive.
There’s just 10 minutes left to play in this game and Man City bring on Jess Park to change their fortunes.
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
13:58 , Jamie BraidwoodCruel on Manchester City and, especially, Yui Hasegawa. But it’s the run from Lucy Bronze down the right that made it possible. She made the breakthrough, beating Fowler and then coming through the collision with Ouahabi. The spirit Chelsea needed - but City should still believe that they can get back in this. Jess Park is preparing to come on.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Man City (Yui Hasegawa OG, 77')
13:56 , Mike JonesBig moment!
Lucy Bronze looks to break down the right and stumbles. From the floor she pokes the ball to Aggie Beever-Jones who feeds it to Mayra Ramirez.
Ramirez hooks the ball back into the box where it hits Yui Hasegawa and lofts over the goalkeeper to send Chelsea back in front!
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
13:53 , Mike Jones75 mins: Baltimore’s delivery from a Chelsea corner is scuffed away by City.
The ball comes to Lauren James who shoots and pings her effort wide of the target.
Chelsea make a couple of changes now. Aggie Beevert-Jones and Maika Hamano come on to replace Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd and Catarina Macario.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
13:50 , Mike Jones72 mins: It’s been a total turnaround and now City look like the team more likely to score and go on to win the game.
Fujino’s goal has reignited their confidence. Chelsea have to weather the storm here.
Miedema shoots from the edge of the box and forces another low stop out of Hampton.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
13:47 , Mike Jones69 mins: That is superb!
Man City should have a second. Chelsea lose the ball on the edge of their own box and Fujino slips it to Bunny Shaw.
As the pass comes to the forward Hannay Hampton flies off her line and charges down the ball just as Shaw shoots!
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
13:47 , Jamie BraidwoodWhat a strange goal. I thought it must have taken a deflection but it’s the swerve of Fujino’s strike that beats Hampton at the near post. Chelsea had been the better team since the restart but City deserve to be level... and now Hampton makes a big save to deny Shaw.
Chelsea 1-1 Man City
13:46 , Mike Jones66 mins: Penalty shout for Man City!
Bunny Shaw dribbles into the box and is clipped by Sandy Baltimore. She goes down and wants a penalty.
VAR takes a look at the incident and decides that the contact wasn’t enough for a foul.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Man City (Aoba Fujino, 64')
13:44 , Mike JonesOh my god!
What a goal this is. The quality of Man City’s chances haven’t been great and even this one shouldn’t have gone in.
Aoba Fujino receives the ball in the middle of the pitch and drives forward. She dances into the box then shoots.
A big swerve on the ball takes it past Hampton and the ball lands in the back of the net!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:40 , Mike Jones60 mins: Chance!
What a save this is. Chelsea may come to rue their missed opportunities.
Erin Cuthbert threads a pass through the defensive line and places the ball at the feet of Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd.
With the defenders closing in she shoots and fires the ball at goal only for Ayaka Yamashita to stand tall and keep it out!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:38 , Mike Jones58 mins: Catarina Macario swings a corner into the box for Chelsea but it gets flicked on by Aoba Fujiino at the near post.
Unintentionally she sends the ball into a dangerous area but the whistle goes for a foul against one of the Man City players.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:36 , Mike Jones57 mins: Yellow card for Shaw!
She arrives late when challenging Erin Cuthbert for the ball and leaves a bit too much on the midfielder.
Shw pleads her innocence but goes in the book nonetheless.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:35 , Mike Jones54 mins: Oh! Aleixandri recovers the ball off Lauren James and brings it into midfield.
She lifts a cross over the top as Shaw runs off the shoulder of Nathalie Bjorn.
Shaw collects the ball, spies that Hampton is off her line and then laces a shot from range over the top of goal.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:32 , Mike Jones51 mins: Leila Ouahabi looks to supply a pass down the left wing but Mary Fowler can’t get across in time to receive it.
City have tried to to control the game again in this half but Chelsea’s solid defensive structure isn’t giving them much room to play with.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:29 , Mike Jones48 mins: The first chance of the second half comes to Chelsea as Laia Aleixandri loses possession.
Mayra Ramirez turns and shoots only to have her effort blocked.
The ball is collected by Lucy Bronze who weaves back into the box. She anticipates a tackle by the Man City captain and goes down looking for a penalty.
The referee blows the whistle and books Bronze for diving!
Second half! Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:24 , Mike JonesChelsea get the match back underway. They’re 45 minutes away from being crowned League Cup champions.
HT Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:21 , Mike JonesMan City created 10 shots compared to Chelsea’s four in that half.
The Blues had three on target compared to City’s two which shows how clinical and ruthless they can be.
Is there a way back into the game for City?
HT Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:17 , Mike Jones
HALF TIME! Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:10 , Jamie BraidwoodPlay that half another seven times, and Manchester City will win the majority of them. They’ve had control of the game.
Which makes the next couple of weeks interesting as, of course, this is just the first of four clashes between Chelsea and City.
Half-time! Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:07 , Mike Jones45+4 mins: The whistle goes to end a fascinating first half in this League Cup final.
Chelsea take a slim lead into the break but Man City have threatened.
All to play for in the next half. Who will come out on top?
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:06 , Mike Jones45 mins: Four minutes of added time to play at the end of this half.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
13:01 , Mike Jones42 mins: Macario wins a free kick after cutting across Miedema who sticks out a leg and brings down the Chelsea attacker.
Chelsea will want to get to the break now and maintain their lead.
They have possession and a second goal could make things incredibly difficult for Man City.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:58 , Mike Jones39 mins: Erin Cuthbert goes down under a big hit and stays on the ground.
The physios come on to check her over and for a moment there’s a bit of worry on the face of Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor.
Cuthbert seems okay though.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:55 , Jamie Braidwood37 mins: Chelsea are defending as if it’s the final five minutes. It’s backs against the wall from Sonia Bompastor’s side, with Baltimore saving Bright after her slip when Shaw shot and then Erin Cuthbert rescuing Bjorn when Miedema dribbled past her.
At the other end, Ramirez knew the importance of her chance and immediately pulled her shirt over her head after finding the side-netting.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:53 , Mike Jones36 mins: Chelsea have scored but it’s been their impressive defending that has kept them ahead.
City are the more aggressive side but Chelsea’s back four are so in sync that they’re covering each other superbly.
That’s been the difference between the teams so far as City have created enough chances to shoot.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:51 , Mike Jones33 mins: Opportunity for Man City after Shaw is brought down outside the box.
The free kick is floated into the box by Fowler but Hampton comes out to punch the ball away.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:50 , Mike Jones30 mins: Shaw and Fowler combine on the left side of the final third for Man City.
Lucy Bronze is out of position and allows Fowler to get in behind.
Fowler chips it across but Bright is back to block and cover for her England teammate.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:46 , Mike Jones27 mins: City are the more fluid and smooth team when in possession.
They’re controlling play for the most part but are missing that clinical edge in the final third.
Chelsea are more direct.
Chance!
As if on cue, Mayra Ramirez makes a run in behind as the ball is sent long. She collects it and drives into the box before before forced wide by Ayaka Yamashita.
The forward takes the ball around the goalkeeper and should score but she laces her efforts into the side netting!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:43 , Jamie Braidwood24 mins: It’s a wonderfully open game, made possible by both teams looking to press high up the pitch and committing numbers forward. Chelsea lead but Manchester City have arguably been the better side. They’re the team who have been able to build sustained pressure.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:43 , Mike Jones24 mins: Chance!
Chelsea are very dangerous when given space to operate in.
They swept the ball across the pitch and get it to Lauren James who dances into the box.
From a decent angle she hits one but there’s no way past the goalkeeper.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:39 , Mike Jones21 mins: There’s more of an urgency from Man City now.
One-touch passing to work the ball quickly through midfield and find Shaw just outside the box.
She spins, shoots and wins another corner.
This one is played short and snet back to Aoba Fujino. She checks to the left inside the box and fizzes a shot at goal only for Hampton to deny her!
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:37 , Mike Jones18 mins: Leila Ouahabi whips a corner into the penalty area but Chelsea work it clear.
Man City recycle the ball quickly and send it to the edge of the box.
Ouahabi has drifted inside and shoots first time.
Her low curling effort looks to be sneaking in but Hannah Hampton leaps across and tips the ball wide of the post.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:35 , Mike Jones15 mins: Man City started the game on the front foot but that gaol has hampered their confidence.
Mary Fowler tries to wrestle back some momentum and offloads the ball to Bunny Shaw.
She weaves past three defenders then shoots only for Millie Bright to deflect the effort.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:31 , Mike Jones12 mins: Macario splits the City defence with a cutting pass that gets Lucy Bronze free on the right side of the box.
She lifts the ball into the box but can’t find a teammate and City manage to clear.
Chelsea 1-0 Man City
12:29 , Jamie Braidwood8 mins: There’s the merit of having so many quality attacking players on display: the switch between Macario and James, allowing the England international to come inside and find the pass through to Ramirez, made that opening goal possible.
I thought Yamashita took too long to come off her line. City may also rue the fact that Aleixandri slipped slightly as James came forward, as Ramirez made the run off the back of her shoulder.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Man City (Mayra Ramierz, 8')
12:27 , Mike JonesThere’s the opener!
It’s scrappy. Hampton sends the ball over to Baltimore on the left and she nudges it up to Catarina Macario.
Macario runs down the wing then passes the ball inside to Lauren James who threads it into the box.
Mayra Ramirez makes a well timed run, collects the ball and takes it into the box. She pokes a shot towards the target but Ayaka Yamashita makes the save!
The rebound falls kindly for Ramirez though and the striker eventually bungles the ball over the line.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
12:25 , Mike Jones7 mins: Man City win the first corner of the game after another cross from Fowler.
She finds Aoba Fujino over by the back post who manages to keep the ball in play.
Bright turns it out for the set piece.
The ball is crossed into the middle and Hannah Hampton comes out to confidently claim the ball.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
12:23 , Jamie Braidwood5 mins: Millie Bright eventually came over and gave Khadija Shaw a little pat on the back as the Manchester City striker sat back up following that heavy challenge from the Chelsea captain .
That certainly sets the tone for their individual battle over this cup final, and the next two weeks.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
12:23 , Mike Jones6 mins: Vivianna Miedema sends the ball slickly through midfield up to Jill Roord.
Roord brings it forward and gives it to Mary Fowler on the left side of the box.
Fowler floats in a cross but Sandy Baltimore is there to nod it away for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
12:21 , Mike Jones4 mins: Khadija (Bunny) Shaw feels a big challenge from Millie Bright and stays down.
The Man City forward needs a bit of treatment but is back on her feet and should continue.
She grimaces and rubs her right knee but it fine as the match resumes.
Chelsea 0-0 Man City
12:20 , Mike Jones3 mins: Chelsea work the ball well through the middle of the pitch and get it up to Mayra Ramirez.
She pokes it across to Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd on the left wing and the forward sweeps up to the Man City box.
She looks for the pull back but the pass is intercepted and cleared away.
Kick off! Chelsea 0-0 Man City
12:18 , Mike JonesLet’s get down to business. The Women’s League Cup final gets underway with Manchester City rolling the ball to goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
She boots it long but Millie Bright is there to nod the ball clear.
Chelsea vs Man City
12:12 , Mike JonesThe teams have made their way out onto the pitch for the pre-match presentations.
There are around 16,000 fans watching on from inside the ground at Pride Park.
The national anthem is played as well.
Chelsea vs Man City
12:11 , Jamie BraidwoodA decent effort from the WPLL, organisers of the League Cup, to make a spectacle ahead of kick-off, with huge flags of the two club crests on the pitch at Pride Park.
Attendance is looking at around 15,000, which is down from Arsenal’s meeting with Chelsea in Wolverhampton last season.
Chelsea's unbeaten start under Sonia Bompastor
12:10 , Jamie BraidwoodSonia Bompastor could not have made a better start to life at Chelsea but will know her first season is entering crunch time.
Chelsea have played 27 matches in all competitions, registering 25 wins and just two draws in the Women’s Super League - they have yet to taste defeat under the French coach.
As a result, they enter March alive in all four competitions. As well as the League Cup final, they are in the Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-finals, where they play Liverpool. They also hold a eight-point lead in the WSL with six games left this season.
Explosive scenes at last year's Women's League Cup
12:00 , Jamie BraidwoodArsenal’s victory over Chelsea in last year’s Women’s League Cup final was best remembered for the explosive post-match handshake between Emma Hayes and Jonas Eidevall, with the former Chelsea manager accusing the now departed Arsenal boss of showing “male aggression” on the touchline after shoving him at the end of the match.
I would highly doubt that we see such scenes between Sonia Bompastor and Nick Cushing today....
Chelsea and Man City's route to cup final
11:50 , Jamie BraidwoodOne of the oddities of the Women’s League Cup is that those teams who play in Europe, such as Chelsea and Man City, skip the group stages, making them seem pretty irrelevant when both finalists didn’t even feature in the first phase of the competitions.
In any case, Chelsea thrashed Durham 5-0 and then beat West Ham 2-0 in the semi-finals.
Manchester City’s path was much tougher: they defeats rivals Manchester United 2-1 away from home, and then stunned Arsenal in the semi-finals thanks to Mary Fowler’s 95th minute winner.
Sam Kerr edges closer to Chelsea return
11:40 , Jamie BraidwoodWhile Chelsea’s star striker will play no part in the Women’s League Cup final, Sam Kerr was a surprise addition to Chelsea’s Champions League squad ahead of the quarter-final clash with Manchester City.
The Australia international has been out of action since suffering an ACL injury at a warm weather training camp in December 2023.
Sonia Bompastor does not want Kerr to rush back despite her recent return to grass training: “For Sam, we will see. She is progressing really well in her rehab, but I just want her to feel like the main focus for her will be to work really hard, be the best version of herself.”
Chelsea handed boost after Sonia Bompastor gives Sam Kerr injury update
Lucy Bronze's pre-match thoughts
11:33 , Mike JonesChelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of kick off and said Chelsea’s season doesn’t count for anything just yet.
The Blues are unbeaten in this campaign but Bronze says they need to win trophies.
She said: "People say ‘Chelsea are unbeaten, what an amazing season’. But we haven’t won anything.
"We have won the award for most games unbeaten so far? That’s not a trophy.
“To have the chance to win a trophy is a lot bigger than anything we’ve done this season so far.”
Manchester City's trophy drought
11:30 , Jamie BraidwoodFor a team of Manchester City’s quality, boating the goals and talent of an elite striker in Khadija Shaw, it has been somewhat surprising that they have not won a trophy since last lifting the Women’s League Cup three years ago.
City have gone close to glory in their two trophyless seasons since, notably in last season’s Women’s Super League title race where they lost out to Chelsea on goal difference.
Chelsea vs Man City team news
11:23 , Jamie BraidwoodSonia Bompastor and Nick Cushing name two attacking line-ups.
For Chelsea, Cat Macario starts alongside Mayra Ramirez, with Lauren James and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd on the wings. If there was a temptation to play a midfield three, Wieke Kaptein drops to the bench with Erin Cuthbert and Sjoeke Nusken the central pair.
City also name an attacking team with Vivianne Miedema joining Khadija Shaw in the side. The slight surprise, perhaps, is that Aoba Fujino starts ahead of England international Jess Park, who drops to the bench, with Mary Fowler also named in attack. It’s as expected elsewhere.
Chelsea vs Man City line-ups
11:16 , Mike JonesChelsea XI: Hampton; Bronze, Bright, Bjorn, Baltimore; Nusken, Cuthbert; Rytting-Kaneryd, Macario, James; Ramirez
Your finalists. 👀#CFCW pic.twitter.com/TofZ6zNfxf
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 15, 2025
Man City XI: Yamashita, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri, Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Miedema, Roord, Fujino, Fowler, Shaw
How we line up for the #SubwayWLC final 🩵
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) March 15, 2025
XI | Yamashita, Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Miedema, Roord, Fujino, Fowler, Shaw
SUBS | Keating, Layzell, Coombs, Wienroither, Kerolin, Park, Blindkilde Brown, Oyama, Murphy#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/VTIAallcGM
Sonia Bompastor dismisses Chelsea's record in League Cup finals
11:10 , Jamie BraidwoodDespite Chelsea’s dominance in England under Emma Hayes, the Women’s League Cup is a trophy that has painfully eluded them in recent years.
The Blues have lost the last three finals, twice two Arsenal in 2024 and 2023 and to Manchester City in 2022, but Sonia Bompastor says that has no relevance to today’s clash.
The French coach - who is still unbeaten in all competitions since succeeding Emma Hayes - will be aiming to lift her first trophy of her tenure at Stamford Bridge.
“It is a new season. I think we just need to be going into this game with confidence,” Bompastor said.
“We are expecting a really hard and difficult game because Man City has a really good squad, good players, top-class players, but we think we are ready.”
Nick Cushing returns to Man City as interim manager
10:55 , Jamie BraidwoodNick Cushing enjoyed a long, successful stint at Manchester City between 2013 and 2020, a period that included their breakthrough WSL success in 2016.
He left to take a role as an assistant at New York City FC, also a member of the City Football Group network of clubs, before stepping up to the top role in 2022. He was sacked after two seasons last year and has since been out of work.
“I’m obsessed with the game, and love how competitive the WSL is,” he said ahead of the League Cup final.
“The good thing is I have a top group of staff filling in the gaps I might not know about personalities and who can do two games in a week.
“They’ve worked incredibly hard over the last few days to help me and I appreciate that.”
Alex Greenwood says Man City players in ‘shock’ at Gareth Taylor departure
10:40 , Jamie BraidwoodManchester City captain Alex Greenwood said she and her teammates were “shocked” by the club’s decision to sack long-time manager Gareth Taylor.
England international Greenwood was signed to Manchester City by Taylor in 2020 and has played her full five-year career there under his leadership, lifting the League Cup in 2022.
She told reporters: “I was shocked by the news, of course... I had to digest it. Ultimately the decision was made and we have to respect the decision and trust the decision.”
Alex Greenwood says Man City players in ‘shock’ at Gareth Taylor departure
Manchester City part ways with Gareth Taylor amid WSL struggles
10:25 , Jamie BraidwoodManchester City sprung a huge surprise on Monday by sacking Gareth Taylor five days before the League Cup final.
Taylor had been in charge of City for five years, winning the League Cup in 2022, but managing director Charlotte O’Neill said results had not been good enough this season with the team only in fourth in the WSL.
“Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard. With six games of the WSL campaign remaining, we believe that a change of management will breathe fresh life into our bid to ensure qualification for the 2025/26 Women’s Champions League,” a statement said.
Manchester City part ways with Gareth Taylor amid WSL struggles
Chelsea vs Man City final kicks off four clashes in 12 days
10:10 , Jamie BraidwoodChelsea and Manchester City should be sick of the sight of each other by the end of the month: today’s League Cup final is the first of four meetings between the teams in just 12 days .
Chelsea have a fairly healthy lead in the WSL, while Man City are scrapping to make the top three, but the Champions League quarter-finals loom large.
The Blues are of course desperate to progress and win that competition: will be interesting to see how both managers rotate their squads throughout the fortnight.
The four matches in 12 days
15/03: Chelsea vs Manchester City | Women’s League Cup final
19/03: Manchester City vs Chelsea | Champions League QF first leg
23/03: Manchester City vs Chelsea | Women’s Super League
27/03: Chelsea vs Manchester City | Champions League QF second leg
Chelsea vs Man City predicted line-ups
10:05 , Jamie BraidwoodChelsea XI: Hampton; Bronze, Bjorn, Bright, Baltimore; Cuthbert, Kaptein, Nusken; Rytting-Kaneryd, Ramirez, James
Manchester City XI: Yamashita; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Hasegawa, Roord, Miedema; Park, Shaw, Fowler
What is the Man City team news?
10:03 , Jamie BraidwoodManchester CIty are still without long-term absentees Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp. Aoba Fujino has been passed fit but Rebecca Knaak is out.
What is the Chelsea team news?
10:02 , Jamie BraidwoodChelsea have several key absences with January signings Keira Walsh and Naomi Girman unavailable - while forward Guro Reiten has also been ruled out.
Mia Fischel is nearing a return after returning to the bench in the win over Crystal Palace but Sam Kerr and Kadeisha Buchanan are long-term absentees.
How can I watch the Women’s League Cup final?
10:01 , Jamie BraidwoodIt will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with coverage starting from 11:45pm on Saturday 15 March. Kick-off at Pride Park is at 12:15pm.
Good morning
10:00 , Jamie BraidwoodChelsea face Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final as the first silverware of the season is decided at Derby’s Pride Park.
Chelsea have been runners-up in the last three League Cup finals in a row but have the chance to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor.
City, whose last honour came in this competition in 2022, have had a turbulent build-up with manager Gareth Taylor surprisingly sacked five days before the final.
The Women’s League Cup final also kicks off a run of four meetings in 12 days between Chelsea and City. .
The teams are also facing each other in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals and with a WSL clash scheduled in between.
