Manchester City are aiming for a historic Double after a dramatic U-turn from Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and securing the league title.
FA Cup final victory against Brighton would make it a perfect month, and the squad are hungry for more success.
Shaw’s Contract U-Turn
Persuading Khadija “Bunny” Shaw to perform a remarkable U-turn and stay for another four years was vital for Manchester City. The Jamaica striker had signalled firmly to the club she had decided to leave, because other teams were offering more lucrative contracts and talks with City had broken down.
The late intervention of senior management from the men’s arm of the club to ensure Shaw’s contract requests were met led to her change of heart. She had made clear her preference was to stay, and the club realised not only the value of keeping her but the potential cost of her playing for a direct rival in Chelsea.
Shaw’s exit would have been a major momentum-killer.
Her mic-drop-style reveal that she was staying, presented on stage during Monday’s trophy parade in Manchester in front of thousands of overjoyed fans, signalled that the club are serious about trying to build a winning machine and perhaps even challenge for a first European title.
Eyes on the Double
The first stop is Wembley, where they face Brighton on Sunday, when victory would land their first league and FA Cup Double and first two‑trophy season since 2019, when they lifted both domestic cups. It would also be their first FA Cup success in six years and their first in front of fans for seven years, because their extra-time victory over Everton in 2020 was played behind closed doors during the pandemic.
City will not have it all their own way against a Brighton side who beat them in the league in April and have been in tremendous form since mid-March, but the ambition of a confident City team, buoyed up by Shaw’s deal, is clear.
Balancing Celebrations and Preparation
Perhaps the hardest thing for City in the fortnight since they lifted the WSL title has been finding a balance between celebrating and preparing. “We’re just trying to separate both, celebrate first and then really turn our focus on to Wembley,” Laura Blindkilde Brown says.
The 22-year-old has been one of the team’s success stories this season and something of an unsung hero, playing in 20 of their 22 WSL games, starting 18 and demonstrating a maturity beyond her years as she controlled games from hol.
“Because we’ve won silverware, there’s more hunger there to win even more,” Blindkilde Brown says. “We were in the Champions League two years ago and we did well there and now it’s about trying to push on there and hopefully win that as well.”
May 2026 has gone swimmingly for Manchester City and they are hoping it will get even better.