Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor has warned against getting carried away as his side look to maintain their impressive start to the season at St Polten in the Champions League.
City head to Austria top of the Women’s Super League after a stoppage-time goal from Khadija Shaw earned a 2-1 win at Liverpool on Sunday.
That came after Taylor’s side marked their return to the Champions League proper for the first time since 2020-21 with an impressive 2-0 victory over holders Barcelona in last week’s Group D opener at the Joie Stadium.
Barcelona had never failed to score in a #UWCL group stage game before facing City tonight ❌⚽️😮 pic.twitter.com/fjoxvQtKPr
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) October 9, 2024
St Polten lost to Swedish side Hammarby on matchday one, but are top of the Austrian Frauenliga with six wins from their seven league games.
And Taylor wants his players fully focused when they head to Vienna for Wednesday night’s game at the Generali Arena.
“People probably see it as a game that is won before it is played but I don’t at all,” Taylor said at a press conference.
“They were in the game for large parts against Hammarby and at 1-0 that game could easily have been drawn.
That was for you! 🫵
🔴 1-2 🩵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/QBM0UycpKs
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) October 13, 2024
“It is a big game for us and an opportunity to build on a great moment last week.
“We have taken loads of confidence, but it is worth being cautious around our ambition.
“We are novices in this competition after being out of it for a couple of years.
“We have beaten the reigning champions, but it is important that people don’t get too carried away.
“We are really enjoying the journey. We believe we can do well, but it is a process. We just have to keep taking that next step, whatever it may look like.”
City will make a late call on the fitness of Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, who joined from Arsenal in the summer, after she missed the WSL game at Anfield.
“We are still assessing Viv and the slight niggles she has got, and that’s all it is,” Taylor said.
“We have placed big importance on this game tomorrow. We have one more game before the break.
“We will assess Viv over the next 24 hours and see if she can make the journey with us to Vienna.”
Taylor knows he will have to carefully manage his resources as the campaign pushes on at home and in Europe.
“Once you have qualified for the Champions League, the first thing you look at is the squad and realise it is going to be a big load on the squad, but this is what we want,” said Taylor, who expects to have defender Naomi Layzell back from an ankle problem after the international break.
“If it means we have to do less training between games then we will do it.
“Having (midfielder) Jill (Roord) back (from her ACL injury) is a really good addition for us and feels like we have got a new player.”
