Manchester City’s chairman has declared the club’s newly opened women’s first team training facility the best in the country, highlighting it as a physical representation of the club’s commitment to developing their women’s programme.

Officially opened last month at the City Football Academy, the facility was built specifically for the women’s squad and includes dedicated spaces tailored to elite-level performance requirements.

Al Mubarak used his annual interview to emphasize that the investment goes beyond bricks and mortar. He spoke about the significance of having the entire club operating from one campus, where men’s and women’s teams can build together.

That unity creates competitive advantage. When Andrée Jeglertz’s squad celebrated winning the WSL title and FA Cup, they did it together as one organization. That matters more than any individual facility.

The timing of the facility’s completion coincided perfectly with the women’s team winning their first league title in a decade. City last lifted the WSL trophy in 2016, meaning this victory ended a long championship drought.

Al Mubarak credited the squad’s resilience in bouncing back from disappointment in previous seasons. They faced adversity and responded with attacking football, exciting performances and star power. That is how you build a winning culture.

The Shaw Effect

Bunny Shaw won the Golden Boot, Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year before committing her future to City until 2030. Al Mubarak compared her goal-scoring prowess to Erling Haaland in the men’s team. That is the quality operating at both levels.

The Infrastructure Advantage

Having world-class facilities gives City an edge in recruitment and player development. It sends a message about where the club’s ambitions lie.

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A fascinating story has emerged from Pep Guardiola’s decade of dominance at Manchester City, revealing the moment a young Phil Foden stood up to his manager and forced him to eat humble pie in front of the entire squad.

It happened during a Champions League tie against Porto in 2020 when Foden, just 20 years old at the time, failed to execute a free kick the way Guardiola wanted. The manager’s response was immediate and furious, with expletives flying across the technical area.

Rather than accept the criticism, Foden went back to the dressing room and changed fully before his teammates had even arrived. When Guardiola walked in, the young midfielder was waiting by the door ready to tell his boss exactly what he thought.

Foden did not hold back. He told Guardiola never to speak to him that way again, making a pointed reference to David Silva, implying his manager would never treat the club legend with such disrespect. It was a genuinely bold moment from a player still finding his way at elite level.

A Manager Willing to Learn

What happened next separated Guardiola from many of his peers. He did not dig in or defend his actions. He apologized immediately and then called a meeting the next day to apologize again in front of the entire squad. He even paid a self-imposed fine into the players’ pot. That kind of accountability from a manager of Guardiola’s stature sends a powerful message about the culture he was building.

The Foundation of Success

This exchange reveals something fundamental about why City became so successful under Guardiola. He was not a despot demanding blind obedience. He was willing to be called out when he was wrong and mature enough to admit it. Foden learned that standing up for himself mattered, and Guardiola demonstrated that his way was not the only way.

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Brighton face Manchester City in the 2026 Women’s FA Cup Final on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Wembley Stadium with kick-off at 16:00 BST. City arrive as WSL champions chasing a domestic double while Brighton enter the biggest match in their entire history, targeting their first major trophy. This should be a genuinely compelling occasion.

Kick-off: 16:00 BST, Sunday, May 31, 2026

Venue: Wembley Stadium

London TV: BBC One, TNT Sports, HBO Max, Viaplay

Form Guide

Manchester City won the WSL title by seven points over Arsenal and defeated Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Cup semi-finals. Their 4-2-3-1 system with Yui Hasegawa controlling tempo and Khadija Shaw leading the attack has been devastatingly effective all season. Sam Coffey remains absent after knee surgery while Rebecca Knaak is a doubt.

Brighton finished the WSL campaign strongly, beating City 3-2 in their final league encounter in April through goals from Madison Haley and Kiko Seike. That result gives Dario Vidosic’s side genuine belief. Veteran Fran Kirby, Player of the Season at Brighton, brings cup final experience nobody else in the squad possesses. Vidosic has no confirmed fresh injury concerns ahead of Wembley.

Team News

Vivianne Miedema returned for City during their final WSL fixture. Sam Coffey misses out, creating a midfield void City must address. Brighton have a full complement available with Kirby expected to anchor their midfield creativity.

Predicted Lineups

Brighton (4-4-2): Baggaley; Mpome, Hayes, Minami, Vanegas; Seike, Symonds, Cankovic, Olislagers; Kirby, Haley

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Cumings; Ouhabi, Greenwood, Rose, Beney; Hasegawa, Blindkilde; Hemp, Fujino, Fowler; Shaw

Prediction

Brighton have the tactical blueprint to cause problems. City have the quality to win anyway. Brighton 1-3 Manchester City.

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