Gareth Taylor said Manchester City had taken a “big step” forward but were not getting carried away after they produced a statement win on their Champions League return by beating holders Barcelona 2-0 at the Joie Stadium.
City’s Group D opener saw them making their comeback having not played in the competition proper since a 2020-21 quarter-final second leg against Barca at the same venue, which they won 2-1, but lost the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
The Catalan side claimed the trophy that season and have featured in each of the three finals since, winning the last two.
City boss Taylor, in charge since May 2020, said Wednesday’s game ranked “right up there” in terms of results and displays from his tenure.
Nights like these at the Joie 🤗#ManCity | #UWCL pic.twitter.com/pSrff5bRax
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) October 9, 2024
When asked what defeating the champions of the past two editions showed about City’s credentials in the competition this season, Taylor said: “I think we’ve taken a step forward tonight, I think it’s a big step for us.
“We’re super honoured to be in the competition, and enjoying the journey, but we feel we just need to do ourselves justice. There’s a lot of very good teams in this competition…and Barcelona, why they are the best, is because they bounce back from these moments straight away.
“It’s good for us, a nice moment for us, but we’re not getting carried away at all. We’ve spent three seasons out of this competition, we know how tough it is to make it, and now all we want to do is create the next objective, which is to make the quarter-finals.”
Naomi Layzell, the 20-year-old defender signed from Bristol City in the summer, put the hosts in front with a 36th-minute finish, the first goal of her career.
Layzell then added an assist to her memorable evening when she set up Khadija Shaw’s strike with 13 minutes of normal time to go, before sustaining an injury late on.
On Layzell, who has trained with the senior England squad, Taylor said: “It was a weird action. My first instinct was I hope that’s not an Achilles, but she seems to be kind of OK, presenting more like a rolled ankle, but hasn’t actually rolled it. At the moment our physios are fairly positive.
“But second Champions League game (having played in the qualifying round), scoring and assisting against Barcelona, playing out of position – unbelievable.
“It is special. If you get to know Naomi, you’d probably say it doesn’t surprise you. She takes on information very well.
“She’s playing in her not favoured position at right-back – her profile is a centre-back for sure. To go in and play the way she has done, in the Women’s Super League but also the Champions League qualifiers and tonight, she’ll be on cloud nine and hopefully her injury is not too bad.”
While an eventful first half saw both sides hit the post early on – Caroline Graham Hansen for Barca and Lauren Hemp for City – it was the hosts who were on top for the most part.
The visitors improved as they pushed for an equaliser after the break but were unable to find one before Shaw notched the second as it proved a disappointing evening for the likes of former City midfielder Keira Walsh and Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.
Barca boss Pere Romeu said: “It was definitely one half to each team. When we were playing at our best was when we conceded (the second).
“I think if you look at ways we could better our performance today, we need to be more determined in our press and also more clinical with our finishing.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
