Manchester City Women and Man United Women will be targeting victories for very different reasons this weekend.
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A two-image collage displaying an image of Manchester United's players celebrating a goal on the left and Manchester City's players celebrating a goal on the right.
Manchester United and Manchester City are both facing big weekends.
(Image: Getty Images.)
Manchester City Women and Manchester United Women both progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend with home victories.
United got the better of Championship side Sunderland, winning 3-1 at Leigh Sports Village, before City defeated Women's Super League (WSL) counterparts Aston Villa 2-0 at the Joie Stadium.
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That was not enough to deter City from sacking head coach Gareth Taylor the following day. After five years in charge, he was dismissed amid City's underwhelming results and performance this season.
As part of the Manchester Evening News' weekly women's football notebook, here is a round-up of the five biggest talking points from the women's football scene across Manchester from the past week and ahead of this weekend.
City axe Taylor
Just 24 hours after knocking Villa out of the FA Cup and progressing to the semi-finals, City announced their decision to sack boss Taylor. He had been in charge since May 2020 and led the club to FA Cup and the League Cup crowns.
Charlotte O'Neill - managing director of City Women - said: "Manchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition. Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard."
City are currently fourth in the WSL table, just one point shy of third-placed Arsenal and four back on second-placed United. The top three qualify for the following season's Champions League.
Offering her verdict on Taylor's exit, City defender Alex Greenwood told BBC Sport: "I had to digest it - I was obviously quite shocked when I was first told as it wasn't something I expected. Ultimately the decision was made and we have to respect the decision and trust the decision."
Former boss Nick Cushing, who managed City for seven years between 2013 and 2020, has returned on an interim basis until the end of the season. It is understood he has no plans to land the job permanently.
United keep on rolling
In the red half of Manchester, United chalked up a sixth successive victory in all competitions by beating Sunderland 3-1 in their own FA Cup quarter-final, ensuring their defence of the trophy is still alive. They got the job done via goals either side of half-time from Leah Galton, Maya Le Tissier and Ella Toone.
Ella Toone celebrates after scoring for Manchester United against Sunderland.
Ella Toone has been in great goalscoring form of late.
United took the lead after just seven minutes when Galton headed home Celin Bizet's pinpoint cross from the right flank to claim her second FA Cup goal of the season. The Reds doubled their lead in first half stoppage time when Le Tissier headed in from a corner.
Sunderland pulled one back via Louise Tania Griffiths, ensuring the tie was far from over as it entered its latter stages, but United wrapped it up in injury time when Toone headed in from close range. United have now scored 16 goals in just three FA Cup outings this season.
United Women learn of new stadium plans
United chief operating officer Collette Roche has confirmed there are plans for the women's team to play at the club's new stadium. United announced on Tuesday that they plan to build a new 100,000-seater stadium as part of the Old Trafford regeneration project.
The stadium will become the biggest in the UK and it is hoped that United Women will join the men's team in making the switch to the new arena.
Roche said: "There's technology now that can still give you the sense of a smaller, intimidating, great atmospheric stadium. We think [that] could be befitting the women's team with a smaller crowd.
An image showing what the inside of Manchester United's new stadium could look like.
Manchester United hope to have their new stadium ready for the 2030/31 season.
"That's the type of things we're looking at, as well as technology for the pitch."
Marc Skinner's side currently play the bulk of their games at Leigh.
City targeting a victorious start to life after Taylor
City will begin life without Taylor at the helm by facing Chelsea in the League Cup final at Derby County's Pride Park on Saturday lunchtime, kick-off 12.15pm. City progressed to the final with a semi-final triumph over Arsenal last month.
It will mark City's first appearance in the final of the competition since they lifted the trophy aloft back in 2022. Chelsea were the opposition that day and goals from Caroline Weir (2) and Ellen White sealed a 3-1 win for City.
Saturday's meeting with the Londoners will mark the first of four successive games against Chelsea for City. After facing them in the League Cup final, they will meet again as soon as next Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Joie Stadium.
They will then lock horns for a third time in nine days at the Etihad Stadium a week on Sunday in the WSL. They will then meet again three days later in the second leg of their Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge. Saturday's League Cup final kicks off at 12.15pm and will be shown live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
United aiming to bridge the gap
With Chelsea in League Cup action this weekend, United will be hoping to eat into their eight-point advantage at the WSL summit when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Friday night.
United are currently second and have work to do if they are to secure their maiden WSL crown and end Chelsea's dominance at the top of English football. The Londoners have won the title in each of the last five seasons.
It is highly likely Chelsea will have enough to keep United at arm's length in their pursuit of a sixth successive crown, but United will not give up until the mathematics say a a first title is impossible. A win against Liverpool would move them closer to the leaders and see them record an eighth successive league victory.
You can order March's edition of Women's Football News by clicking here.