FA Cup trophy would be my biggest achievement, says Man City manager Gareth Taylor

Gareth Taylor, the Manchester City head coach, says winning the Women’s FA Cup final and claiming his first piece of silverware would be the “biggest” achievement in his fledgling career as a coach.

The former Wales international only succeeded Nick Cushing in May this year, having spent the past three seasons coaching in City's men's youth set-up, but will watch his side grace the Wembley turf for a second time in as many months in Sunday’s final against an in-form Everton outfit.

City are a very different beast to the one which slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea in late August, when they missed out on the Community Shield at the home of English football.

On that occasion, a host of Taylor's summer signings - namely Alex Greenwood, Lucy Bronze and US World Cup winner Rose Lavelle - were unavailable due to having to quarantine.

“I’ve not even hit double figures in games for the club at the moment and two of those are at Wembley,” said Taylor. “I’m enormously grateful for that opportunity, it’s something you want to get accustomed to, being in big finals and it’s something that’s certainly the target for us.

“For us to win the trophy on Sunday would be amazing and the biggest thing in my premature coaching career because I feel like I’m at the start of it. I’m learning so much about the women’s game and enjoying many parts of it. Leading out the team will be a hugely proud moment for me.”

Having already recorded two victories over the Toffees during the 2020-21 campaign - once in pre-season and again in the Continental Cup - City head into Sunday’s encounter as clear favourites, despite their lethargic start in the Women’s Super League where they are seven points down on pacesetters Arsenal after just five rounds played.

Their preparations have been somewhat aided by having eleven players released early from England duty ahead of the national team’s friendly with Germany last Tuesday, which was cancelled after a member of the England’s backroom staff returned a positive coronavirus test.

“It’s great obviously getting the girls back and having an extra couple of days preparation, because we would only have had three days lead in, but I was quite comfortable with the fact that the girls were going out [to Germany] to play a game,” added Taylor.

“We had to change things round a little bit with the structure of the week, but it was great to get them back and for them to have that normality in having an extra day or two.”

Among those to return earlier than planned was Chloe Kelly who, having joined City from Everton in the summer, will come up against her former side. A change in eligibility rules for what is still technically the 2019-20 competition means the 22-year-old is not cup tied.

“I haven’t really spoken to the Everton girls too much this week,” conceded Kelly, who never made an appearance off the bench while an Arsenal player in The Gunners' 2016 FA Cup victory. “I’ve tried to keep the communication to a minimum.

“I have great relationships with a lot of the players, so probably after the game we will have a conversation but right now I’m focused on getting a job done at the weekend.”