The 2025 Metro Women’s Cup final will see the first domestic silverware of the season distributed, with Chelsea taking over Manchester City at Pride Park in Derby.
Saturday’s conflict is the first of four meetings between the two teams this month, with lamps in Champions League (two feet) and Wsl to come. Chelsea They have lost each of the last three finals in this competition, including 2022 against opponents of this weekend.
For Sonia Bompastor, who took over the role of London’s coach last summer, she could be her first taste of silverware in England. CityOn the other hand, it was separated with Gareth Taylor earlier this week and former director Nick Cushing assumed responsibility on a temporary basis.
Dugout’s turmoil means that it is difficult to predict exactly what the Cushing team will get, but there is no doubt some interesting matchups throughout the court.
Here, 90 minutes He examines the possible battles that could decide on Saturday’s final …
The city forward Khadija Shaw is again in excellent form. International Jamaica drives the golden charge to the WSL and will undoubtedly be the biggest threat of its team in the box.
Millie Bright and her partner Nathalie Bjorn will probably be the two who have been tasked with maintaining one of the most productive scorers in the championship. Shaw has scored four of the last six games of the city in all matches, so it will be a handful of Chelsea’s defense.
It is also worth noting that the Bompastor side has given four of their last six matches, including two at a WSL meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month. Chelsea’s defense is not infallible, which means that Bright should be at the top of her game to keep Shaw in the bay.
The middle field battle is always the most critical for the lights of this size. With two groups wishing to keep possession and work to break their opponent, control in the middle of the park will probably be decisive.
Yui Hasegawa has been at the center of the city’s middle field for several years, so he will probably be called by Cushing this weekend. On the opposite side, Erin Cuthbert signed a new contract with Chelsea earlier this week, Holding her in the club by the summer of 2027.
The star of Fomer Keira Walsh would be a shoe for this accessory, but Bompastor confirmed on Thursday that international England is still sidelined due to injury. Therefore, Cuthbert’s responsibility will probably be responsible for leading the way.
Cuthbert often works by Wieke Kaptein, though Sjoeke Nusken is also a fixed choice. It is fair to say that Chelsea does not lack excellent medium -sized options, even with Walsh not available.
The defender of the city of Kerstin Casparij has been tasked with maintaining quiet on Saturday depends on which Bompastor chooses to play on the left of Chelsea. Due to Guro Reiten’s absence in recent weeks, Lauren James, Catarina Macario and Aggie Beever-Jones all played there.
James, in particular, tends to work the best with power and elimination. The front is a nightmare for every defender, mainly because it has the ability to cut in and shoot from the range.
Anyone who faces Casparij will be a harsh test, but the possible battle with James undoubtedly has the ability to be the most critical, mainly because the Chelsea star has scored the goal of earning or balancing his struggles against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Everton.
At the opposite end of the stadium in Fotini and Shaw Battle, the defense of the city will have an important work of their own. Mayra Ramirez is one of the most fascinating forward in the female game right now and is steadily a handful for anyone who is facing.
The city has been forced to play a rather improvised defense from time to time due to injuries, including Alex Greenwood’s long -term absence. Laia Aleixandri is currently the pillar and has worked with either 20 -year -old Gracie Prior or Naomi Layzell in recent weeks.
