In Focus: Citizens take on Blues in FA Cup final as both teams chase double

Just a week after being crowned Women’s Super League champions for a record third year running, an elated Chelsea take on Manchester City in a hotly-anticipated FA Cup final.

Both powerhouses will be looking to add a second piece of silverware to their cabinets this season as City clinched the League Cup in March by beating the West Londoners 3-1.

Ahead of the Sunday showdown, we preview what is set to be an enticing encounter as two of the finest teams in the country battle it out at Wembley.

Point to prove

Gareth Taylor’s City finished the season third and will be disappointed to not have pushed Chelsea all the way for the title.

The Manchester club finished nine points off the top, eight points worse off and a position lower than last season.

They endured a rocky start to the season as they were thrashed 5-0 by Arsenal in the opening game and failed to beat West Ham the following week.

Taylor’s outfit have got better as the season has gone on and will be hoping rising star Lauren Hemp can help guide them to victory on Sunday.

Hemp, 21, has bagged six goals in four appearances in their FA Cup run including a brace in the quarter and semi-finals.

The Englishwoman, who plays on the left in a front three has made the shortlist for Super League Player of the Season and will be out to impress for England at Euro 2022.

Chelsea’s all-stars

Chelsea’s star-studded squad have plenty of experience and will make it extremely tough for City to prevail against them once again in a final.

Blues boss Emma Hayes will be hoping that her outfit’s loss in the showpiece will not affect her players’ mentality as they were stunned by three second-half goals after taking the lead.

Chelsea were poor in possession, allowing City the space and time to control the game with ease, particularly after going 2-1 down.

Back-to-back Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr — who bagged the Blues’ only goal in that match — has given her side reason to believe revenge is on the cards by firing them to the title since.

Kerr has been a revelation at Chelsea since she joined from her native land Australia, firing in 24 goals and four assists in just her second full season at the club.

Jess Carter and Mille Bright have been standout performers in their backline, with the former shortlisted for Player of the Season alongside teammates Kerr and Norwegian Guro Reiten.

Without a doubt, City’s defence will have to be on high alert with the firepower Chelsea possess up-front.

But the key battle lies in midfield and Hayes will have to ensure her side press intensely off the ball and remain composed in possession.

Double dream

The FA Cup has been dominated by these two sides in recent years, equally sharing the last four trophies, as Chelsea look to secure back-to-back wins.

They have achieved doubles three times (in 2014-15, 2017-18 and 2019-20), clinching both the WSL and FA Cup titles on two occasions, while going as far to win a sensational Quadruple last season.

City, meanwhile, have secured a double twice, having won the league and FA Cup in 2016 and both domestic cups in the 2018-19 season.

Team news

Fran Kirby has been unavailable for Chelsea’s last 12 games and will miss out again after being ruled out for the foreseeable future with a fatigue issue.

Aside from Kirby absence, Hayes is expected to have a fully fit squad at her disposal.

Gareth Taylor was pleased to welcome back Vicky Losada in City’s final league game against Reading, who made a 16-minute cameo from the bench after missing 10 matches.

Park could be in contention to feature, but Steph Houghton, Esme Morgan and Karen Bardsley are set to miss out for the Citizens.

Formidable form

Both sides head into this clash in terrific form and there is very little to separate them with no clear favourite.

The Blues didn’t look back following their defeat in the final and went on to win all 11 of their remaining fixtures to clinch the title by a point, beating Manchester United 4-2 last time out.

The Mancunians arrive at Wembley in even better form, having won each of their last 13 games while scoring 45 and conceding only five in that period — although their last defeat came against Hayes’ side in a 1-0 away loss in February.