'A big learning curve' - how it's gone wrong for Manchester City women

Manchester City's women's team has faced a challenging season, with their hopes of qualifying for the Women's Champions League hanging by a thread. The team has also struggled in the league, currently sitting fourth and seven points adrift of the final Champions League spot with just four games left.

The team's injury crisis has been a major factor in their struggles, with key players such as Vivianne Miedema, Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp, and Alex Greenwood all missing significant amounts of games this season. The lack of squad depth has also been exposed, with the team having to rely on academy graduates Gracie Prior and Lily Murphy to start almost every game.

The team has also faced managerial upheaval, with former manager Gareth Taylor being sacked in January just days before a crucial two-week period in which the team would face Chelsea four times in three competitions. Interim manager Nick Cushing was brought in to try to instil some stability, but ultimately he did not have enough time to turn things around.

The team's disappointing performances in the biggest moments have also been a cause for concern. They were poor against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final, having already been beaten 4-2 by their rivals in the WSL at Etihad Stadium in January. And at the Joie Stadium in February, with a top-three WSL spot up for grabs, City conceded twice within eight minutes in a 4-3 loss to Arsenal.

The team's struggles this season have been a big learning curve, and they will be looking to bounce back next season.