Man City prepare for 'better version' of Chelsea - Cushing
Manchester City interim boss Nick Cushing said his side are preparing to face a "better version" of Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Sunday.
After losing the League Cup final to the Blues on Saturday, City ended Chelsea's 31-game unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
They meet again at Etihad Stadium this weekend with Sonia Bompastor's side eight points clear at the top of the WSL, and fourth-placed City needing victory to maintain their top-three challenge.
"We saw that on Wednesday night that the most difficult part of the game is to be consistent against a top team," said Cushing. "That's why the best are the best.
"We're in fourth because our league form hasn't been consistent enough."
Cushing, who took interim charge last week, added: "For me, if you don't believe in that performance then you're never going to believe.
"Chelsea are a top team and they played really well but I expect Chelsea to come hugely motivated.
"I saw their manager and Lucy's [Bronze] press conference that they didn't believe the performance was at their level so we have to prepare to play a better version of Chelsea."
Here are the key lines from Cushing's news conference:
- Khadija Shaw, Aoba Fujino and Rebecca Knaak remain out alongside long-term absentees Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp.
- Cushing said he is likely to rotate the squad to "bring in some fresh legs".
- He expects Chelsea to be "far more aggressive, far more intensive".
- Cushing thought defender Gracie Prior was "excellent" on Wednesday.
- On Prior, he added: "To go into a game against a world-class striker and have a high level game is something she should be really proud of".
- His decision to take Lily Murphy off at half-time for matchwinner Vivianne Miedema was a "pre-planned" decision.
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