Manchester United Women ended their 2025/26 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a result that summed up a season that promised more than it ultimately delivered.

Missing out on Champions League qualification stings, and it should, because this squad is capable of better.

Gabby George spoke to the club’s media after the final whistle and delivered exactly the kind of message supporters needed to hear. No excuses, no deflection, just honesty and a clear desire to raise the standard next season.

George Honest About a Difficult Afternoon

The veteran defender acknowledged United pushed hard for an equaliser that never arrived, pointing to chances that went begging rather than a lack of effort or intent.

The match was also complicated by injuries to full backs Anna Sandberg and Jayde Riviere, forcing a formation change to a back three mid-game. George was candid about how disruptive that was, but gave credit to the players who stepped in, with Fridolina Rolfo and Hanna Lundkvist both doing what was asked of them.

Comfortable in the Centre, Happy Anywhere

George played the full 90 minutes at centre back and made it clear that is a position she is entirely at home in, pointing to a decade of experience there. Her versatility is one of her biggest assets and Marc Skinner clearly values it. Ten defensive contributions in a single match tells you everything about how much she put in.

Eyes Already on Next Season

George was direct about what this squad wants. European football, Champions League spots, a step forward. The fact they came close this season without quite getting there should fuel the rebuild rather than define it. United are already linked with Spanish full back Andrea Medina, and the summer window cannot come soon enough.

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Lauren James has been voted Chelsea Women’s Player of the Season for 2025/26 by Blues supporters, claiming more than 30 per cent of the fan vote to secure the award for the second time in her career at the club.

The England international will receive the trophy ahead of Chelsea’s final WSL fixture against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, a fitting stage for a player who has delivered some of the most memorable moments of the season.

A Season That Started Late but Finished Brilliantly

James missed the early part of the campaign through injury, having helped England retain the European Championship over the summer. She made her return in a UEFA Women’s Champions League win over St Polten, forcing an own goal on her comeback, and never looked back from there.

Across 17 matches in the second half of the season she contributed 10 goals and three assists, a return that underlines just how decisive she became once fully fit. She also surpassed 100 appearances for Chelsea in January.

The Moments That Defined Her Season

There were several standout contributions. James was named player of the match in the League Cup final after helping Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0. She scored a stunning long-range left-footed effort against Arsenal in the Champions League.

She also contributed a goal and assist in a win over Aston Villa, and struck twice at Leicester City to help secure European football for next season.

Making History at Chelsea

By winning the award for a second time, James joins an elite group. Only Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert have previously claimed the Chelsea Women’s Player of the Season on more than one occasion.

Having signed a new four-year contract in March, James is clearly at the centre of everything Chelsea are building heading into 2026/27.

Also read: Chelsea Women to Make History in New Zealand This Summer With Two Pre-Season Tour Fixtures Confirmed

Erin Cuthbert marked her 300th Chelsea appearance in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, wearing the captain’s armband for the occasion. The Scotland international sat down with the club to reflect on nearly a decade at Stamford Bridge, and what she had to say painted the picture of a player who has grown enormously without ever losing what made her stand out in the first place.

Cuthbert joined Chelsea from Glasgow City in 2017 as a teenager and has since played pretty much every position on the pitch. Midfielder, striker, winger, full back and back to midfielder again. She is candid about the journey and clear about who she still is at the core of it all.

Still the Same Player, Just Smarter

Cuthbert describes herself as tenacious, and that has never changed. What has evolved is her reading of the game and her movement, sharpened by years of playing in different roles and learning from every single one of them.

She says she is wiser now, more knowledgeable, but the desire to take risks, be brave and be a good team player remains exactly as it was when she first walked through the door.

The Adjustment of Becoming a Professional

Settling into life at Chelsea was not instant. Cuthbert recalls the physical and mental overload of full-time professional football after years of balancing training with university in Glasgow. It took her body months to adjust to the demands, and she only truly felt at home when her teammates began to trust her with the ball in tight situations.

How Much the Club Has Changed Around Her

The facilities Cuthbert trains in today bear no resemblance to what existed when she arrived. She recalls players sitting on the floor in a changing room with not enough lockers to go around, and reflects that the growth at Chelsea has mirrored the growth of the women’s game as a whole.

Also read: Chelsea Women to Make History in New Zealand This Summer With Two Pre-Season Tour Fixtures Confirmed