Casparij Named Player of the Match as City Dominate Manchester Derby
Manchester City secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the Women's Super League derby at Old Trafford, with Kerstin Casparij earning player of the match honors.
As the final whistle blew, chants of "We are top of the league" echoed from a corner of Old Trafford, but it was the visiting City players who celebrated emphatically. Casparij, after scoring the third goal, ran to the away end, kissing and clutching the City badge. Alex Greenwood received enthusiastic applause from the travelling supporters for her contributions during the second half.
The returning Japanese internationals, fresh from their Women's Asian Cup success, were individually acknowledged after the match as celebrations continued well beyond the final whistle.
City's performance was not only a win but a dominant display that left Manchester United struggling throughout the match. With the WSL title within reach, City are poised to claim their first league championship in a decade.
Only two wins from their remaining three fixtures are required to secure the title, barring any unexpected results from their closest competitors.
Manager Jeglertz Reflects on the Match and Conditions
Addressing the media amid challenging weather conditions, City manager Andree Jeglertz remarked on the quality of the first half, which saw City take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
"The weather wasn't helping," Jeglertz joked, "but it was amazing to watch and be a part of a game where my players executed the gameplan with confidence and big belief."
"Definitely, I enjoyed that. It wasn't relaxing, because it never is for a coach, but I felt we had control of the game. The players were enjoying finding solutions to a lot of things. They created chances. It was a fantastic game."
City Make a Statement as Title Confidence Grows
Manchester City have been considered the favorites for the 2026 WSL title for much of the season, steadily building momentum. Their 13-match unbeaten run from September to February propelled them to the top of the table, and they have scored in 17 of their 19 league games.
While top scorer Khadija Shaw did not score in the derby, Vivianne Miedema netted twice to establish City’s dominance by halftime. Casparij’s second-half goal was a fitting reward for her consistent standout performances throughout the campaign.
The squad’s strength is further enhanced by England winger Lauren Hemp, Japanese midfield talent Yui Hasegawa, and January signing Sam Coffey, forming a formidable lineup.
Manchester United, who entered the match in second place, faced a challenging schedule, including an upcoming Women's Champions League quarter-final second leg in Munich. Fatigue appeared to affect their performance, and the gap between the two teams was more pronounced than many anticipated.
United were unable to respond effectively to City’s dominance.
"I really believe in my group of players, that no matter what team we play, if we play with this confidence, then many teams will struggle against us," Jeglertz stated.
"Things can still happen in the three games left and we need to keep performing but I can't see that pressure being too much because we are so open with it. The players have been very good at handling it.
Winning a game is one thing, but winning in the way we win – by making a statement – of course, that brings confidence."
Handling Pressure and Maintaining Performance
City’s performances this season have established them as the league’s leading team. Factors contributing to their success include tactical adjustments by Jeglertz, squad depth, and the absence of Champions League commitments.
Having narrowly missed out on the title in previous seasons, notably on goal difference in 2023-24, City have demonstrated resilience in managing expectations and maintaining focus.
The pressure of leading the title race appears to have motivated the team, with their advantage at the top of the table increasing as the season progresses.
"It shouldn't be like that," Jeglertz commented, "but City have embraced it. They are believing so much in what we are doing and the capacity of each teammate, that it gives them belief in the game that we will find a way to win."
"We talk about how good we are as coaches but we have shown now that when we are at our highest level, few teams are on that same level.
We all have a little bit of pressure on the group. We have talked about it and it's natural. But we can still do the things we're good at and if you can handle that, and also feel you have great players around you, it's easier to deal with.
That's what we've done all the time. Of course, it means something to be able to handle that. To still perform, shows something about the group."
Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie return for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes are released every Tuesday on , featuring interviews and additional content from the Women's Super League and beyond.
