Man City Women 2023/24 mid-season review: Standout performer, best signing & more

Manchester City are eyeing just their second WSL title and have launched their campaign with a clear intent to secure it. Despite facing a few minor hurdles, City are emerging as a dark horse poised to grasp the silverware come May.

No team understands the significance of a strong start to a WSL campaign better than Manchester City. Gareth Taylor's squad ran out of time to reverse their early setbacks last season. However, ten games into the current run, City are defying critics by concluding the first half of the season in the WSL's second place.

While Brighton ended City's impressive 27-game unbeaten run across all competitions, which dated back to November 2021, marking their second defeat of the season, the convincing displays, formidable attack, and disciplined defence have unequivocally demonstrated that they should not be overlooked as serious contenders for the title.

Manchester City's 2022/23 season was plagued by a sluggish beginning. Losing the first two games of the campaign put them in perpetual catch-up and they consistently struggled to close the gap with their main rivals. Essentially, those initial two losses left City with insufficient games to make up ground, underscoring the critical importance of a positive start in a season with only 22 games.

Typically vibrant Manchester City, last season was marked by a sense of disconnection and an inability to secure substantial scorelines, resulting in a flat outcome. Since their WSL triumph in 2016 (excluding the 2017/18 season), City consistently managed to win trophies. But a drought since lifting the Conti Cup in 2022 saw last season mark the furthest decline for the typically stalwart side and they concluding the league campaign in a disappointing fourth