Manchester City is facing an injury crisis. A team that started the 2024-25 season on a 10-game unbeaten streak ended the year on a losing streak with four of its most key players missing.
Summer signing Vivianne Miedema played two months before again needing knee surgery. Lauren Hemp, who suffered a knee injury in November, also required surgery, while league top scorer Khadija Shaw, who was sidelined with a calf injury in early December, scored 9 goals, 3 more than any other player. To add insult to injury, captain and centre-back Alex Greenwood missed the final two games of the year with a knee injury sustained in the penultimate Champions League group stage game.
It derails City somewhat at a crucial time of the year, leaving manager Gareth Taylor with some big decisions to make ahead of a tight schedule during the January transfer window. City have already signed German defender Rebecca Knack to fill Greenwood's vacancy, but are likely to bring in one or two more reinforcements to fill the void.
City are competing in three important cup competitions - the knockout rounds of the Champions League, the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup - while also locked in a tight title race with Chelsea (28 points) and Arsenal (22 points). point). (21) and Manchester United (21) compete for the Women's Super League (WSL) championship. Rotation will be key to managing workload over the next two months.
They kicked off the second half of the season with a 3-0 victory over Ipswich Town in the FA Cup, but the road ahead was difficult. Two Manchester derbies - one in the WSL; the other in the League Cup - are followed by a crucial WSL match against Arsenal on February 2. This is after the league showdown between Arsenal and Chelsea. Manchester City is 6 points behind the Blues, but only 1 point ahead of the Gunners. It can be said that it is the team with the highest points. lose.
While there are some glimmers of hope, how extensive are City's injuries and how will they cope with six grueling months of training before the end of the season?
Greenwood has been a cornerstone of City's defence, providing the steady leadership that has been the foundation of the City backline since she joined from Lyon in 2020. The season started well, with City remaining unbeaten until a 2-0 loss to Chelsea. November 16, Stamford Bridge.
Greenwood's leadership during this period was outstanding, orchestrating things from behind the scenes with confidence and authority. But after being stretchered off against St. Pölten, the team now faces another huge gap.
While Taylor initially said the injury was not serious, it was later confirmed that Greenwood had suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury that required surgery. The club has yet to provide a specific timetable for her return, nor any updates on other injuries plaguing the squad, but recovery could take between three and 12 months. This has fans understandably concerned.
To cope with Greenwood's absence, City moved quickly in the January transfer window to bring in centre-back Knack from Swedish champion Rosengaard. Although Knack has not featured for the German national team, she brings valuable experience from various clubs in Sweden and Germany, as well as international youth football, making her a viable replacement. In addition, Manchester City also have Laia Alessandri and Alana Kennedy, who have attracted interest from Barcelona, to strengthen the defense. However, neither can replicate Greenwood's skills or leadership.
City now find themselves without their star defender and the most authoritative figure in the dressing room, a loss compounded by the retirement of former captain Stephen Houghton at the end of last season. While Houghton is gradually withdrawing from regular game time, Greenwood has seamlessly taken over the captaincy in her absence, positioning herself well to lead the team. The team lost its guiding force, its performance suffered, and it lacked a sense of direction.
In goaltending, Taylor preferred newly acquired Ayaka Yamashita over last season's Gold Glove winner Kiara Keating, who made just a handful of starts. Both goalkeepers relied heavily on Greenwood's defensive skills, with the player always able to make crucial tackles and blocks. In the two games she missed, the team conceded five goals, three of which came in the loss to Barcelona.
At the same time, the absence of cannabis leaves a glaring void in the attack, resulting in a noticeable decrease in clinical completion, creativity, and flow. The 24-year-old winger has been a key player for Taylor since signing in 2018 and this is the first time she has been out for an extended period of time.
In the 2021-22 season, she played in all 22 league games and ranked fourth in the race for the Golden Boot with 10 goals. The following season, despite missing a month due to a thigh injury, Hamp made a total of 28 appearances in all competitions and scored 21 goals.
Injuries to Hamp, Shaw and Greenwood coincided with the start of City's slump and highlighted how reliant the team was on their core trio. Without the dynamic Lioness, the established synergy between Hamp, midfielder and forward was disrupted. While players such as summer signing Fujino Aoba and rookie Jesse Parker have stepped into the role, there's been a distinct lack of cohesion.
It will take several months for Hamp to return to the Manchester City Stadium, causing concern among fans of club and country as England prepares for upcoming Nations League and Euro 2025 matches.
City's fortunes improved after the winter break with the return of prolific forward and midfielder Miedema, who had been absent since October. In her first game back, Miedema scored inside 15 minutes, showing off her instinctive finishing. While it was a promising sign to see the 29-year-old return to action, it's clear it will take time for her to fully integrate into the team. Taylor will be cautious to avoid another setback for Miedema, who has not been at her best over the past two years due to ongoing injuries.
While Miedema's return will undoubtedly reignite City's attacking spark, Shaw's absence has left a lingering sense of vulnerability. Shaw is one of the WSL's most prolific scorers but has been plagued by a series of injuries that have kept her sidelined for weeks to months. This has always exposed City's lack of direct, comparable replacements. Australia international Mary Fowler has been selected but has only scored three goals in the WSL this season.
Taylor expressed hope that Shaw can return sooner than Greenwood or Hamp, but City cannot rush her return too early. Given Shaw's injury history, any further setback could seriously jeopardize City's title bid.
Nearly 2 1/2 years ago, Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal at Euro 2022 to give England their first major title since the 1966 Men's World Cup. Now, at the age of 26, she can only sit on the bench. She only started once in the first 10 league games and was not even included in the squad against Barcelona.
Reports suggest Kelly is actively looking to leave the club in search of more playing time, with the upcoming European Championships in Switzerland being her main motivation. England head coach Salina Wigman has expressed concern over Kelly's lack of playing time.
City may allow Kelly - who has just six months left on her contract - to join another club and bring in a winger who will get more game time and thus have a bigger impact on the team. This will help fill Hamp's void until she returns. However, with City struggling with injuries, Taylor may want to avoid the departure of a senior player as new faces take time to adapt to City's style. Having an important winger with undeniable talent like Kelly is a good thing for the club.
Youngsters like Lily Murphy and Codie Thomas have made impressive progress in recent months and she scored her own goal against Hammarby His first senior goal. While this shift in the pecking order comes at Kelly's expense, it also offers a glimmer of hope. These emerging talents show that City's future remains bright, with the next generation set to drive the team forward and take on important roles.
There are plenty of options to fill the void in the absence of Hamp and Shaw, but it will take a lot to match their total of 11 goals and six assists.