Manchester City women’s football team emphatically sealed a domestic double after a commanding 4-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley. In his debut season at the helm, head coach Andree Jeglertz has now captured both the Women’s Super League title and the FA Cup, marking a resounding end to a four-year wait for either trophy.
City’s last league and cup double came back in 2016, a campaign that slowly faded into distant memory as Chelsea established a stranglehold over English women’s football. While occasional League Cup triumphs dotted the interim, the blue half of Manchester had been forced to watch London rivals hoist the major honours. That narrative has been flipped decisively under Jeglertz, whose side finished the season as the dominant force.
The final itself was a microcosm of City’s campaign: a slow, sticky start gave way to a ruthless exhibition of efficiency. Brighton, contesting their first major final, asked intense questions in the opening 35 minutes, pinning the favourites back with energetic pressing and quick transitions. Yet once City found their rhythm, the contest unravelled rapidly for the Seagulls. Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw pounced to break the deadlock before Alex Greenwood doubled the lead just before half-time. After the break, Aoba Fujino and Vivianne Miedema added gloss to a scoreline that reflected the gulf in finishing quality.
Speaking after the trophy lift, Jeglertz was already fixed on the future. He acknowledged that claiming one title and one cup is an achievement, but insisted his mission is to cultivate a sustainable winning environment. “My job now is to make sure we are hunting for more,” he explained, noting that defending crowns demands greater intensity, deeper application, and a hunger that must be renewed daily.
The Swedish coach was less pleased with his team’s first-half structure, revealing he had sharp words in the dressing room. City were not hitting their agreed build-up positions, causing dangerous turnovers. Adjustments to the roles of Greenwood and Kerolin, plus the introduction of Fujino’s directness, transformed the second half. The message was simple: execute the plan, and the game would fall into place.
Away from the tactical tweaks, the storyline most fans craved revolved around Shaw. On the eve of the final, she ended persistent speculation linking her with a move to Chelsea by announcing a new long-term contract during the league title celebrations. The Jamaican international then underlined her commitment with a typically decisive goal at Wembley. She described the past few weeks as an emotional rollercoaster, but her focus on delivering more trophies for City was unwavering.
The double has reshaped the landscape of the Women’s Super League. Chelsea’s dynasty appears to have cracked, and City now hold the momentum. However, Jeglertz stressed that staying at the summit is far tougher than reaching it. The summer transfer window will test their resolve to keep key players while strengthening for a Champions League challenge. The return of European football’s elite competition adds another dimension to their ambitions.
Other clubs will not sit idle. Arsenal, Manchester United, and a wounded Chelsea will reload. Jeglertz’s ability to maintain standards, avoid complacency, and integrate new talent will define whether this season becomes a brief high point or the start of a prolonged era. He has already set the tone by demanding more from his players in every training session, warning that the bar must rise because opponents will raise theirs.
For now, Manchester City can savor a historic double that reasserted their pedigree. The images of Shaw lifting the Cup, Jeglertz’s steely-eyed assessment, and a squad united in purpose suggest a club ready to write a new chapter. Yet the real test begins when they return for pre-season, knowing that trophies already in the cabinet only intensify the hunger for what comes next.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.