The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly - Both Champions League semi-finals are on a knife-edge – Women’s Football Weekly podcast

Episode Date: April 28, 2026

Suzy Wrack is joined by Sophie Downey, Emily Keogh and Tim Stillman to discuss the big European ties and a pivotal weekend in the WSL title race

This is The Guardian. Hello, I'm not Faye Carothers. I'm Susie Rack and welcome to The Guardian's Women's Football Weekly. Faye's had to step away, so I'm in charge, brace yourselves. Arsenal move a step closer to defending their champion's league title with an impressive first leg wing over Leon. The Manchester sides have had a miserable trip down south as Manchester City showed there's a chink in their armour, suffering defeat to Brighton, leaving Arsenal in control of whether the title race will go down to the last day of the season. And Manchester City slip up in the race for Champions League football, dropping points at Tottenham. Meanwhile, it's tense at the top of the WSL2,

as Birmingham's loss and Charlton's draw means just one point separates Charlton, Birmingham and Crystal Palace going into the final games of the season next weekend. Plus, we'll take your questions, and that's today's Guardians Women's Football Weekly. We've got a very great panel for you today. Producer Sophie is stepping in as Susie 2.0 with Fay out of action. Dogs interrupting you. You're really embracing the role of me today.

Yeah, I'm very unfortunately in the south of France. So you can hear some birds singing, some dogs barking. But yeah, I'm going to do my best to do you proud. I'm really, really jealous. ESPN's Emily Keo is joining us. You've recovered from your extended Iceland adventure. Yes, yeah, back into full swing of things

and still just reminiscing being in the Blue Lagoon and just enjoying myself while I'm working now. I feel like it's prepared us for the cold spell that keeps returning here, so fingers crossed. We've got Ask Boxing. as well, who has an epic Champions League double header ahead, racking up the air miles. Yeah, absolutely. In fact, I'll have been to four games in a row that all have been Champions League semifinals. So, you know, can't really complain about that too much, yeah.

That's living the dream. Tell it to like 10-year-old Tim Stillman and I'm sure he would like die of joy. So onto the Champions League, Advantage Arsenal, Reneece Leger's side earned an impressive first leg lead over Leon with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates. Your brand had the visitors in the lead, but the gunners responded with an impressive second half performance to turn the tie on its head, thanks to an Ingrid Engano goal and a finish from Olivia Smith. As the cliche goes, it's only half time, but it was definitely a bit of a statement win from Arsenal, wasn't it, Sophie? What's your reflections on this game? Yeah, I think it was as good as the first leg could probably go. Yeah, there were cobwebs in the first half, but to get that result and to take that lead

into Lyon. Remember, they didn't do that last year. They still got it over the line last year, of course. But I think it's always good to have a lead, however slender it may be. Yeah, it was a bit slow in the first half. I think the international break. It was the first game they'd had back. So it probably took a bit of time to click together. There's not a lot of score depth at the moment.

The Arsenal, Chloe Kelly was out as well. And Leah Williamson was back in the first 65 minutes or whatever she played after injury. So a few changes here and there, but I think they managed it pretty okay. They were pretty strong. There were a few errors, but they covered them well. I thought standout, Emily Fox and Lottoruben Moy, I thought they were brilliant. I also credit to Katie McCabe for once again, stepping into that centre-back role. She is so versatile and she performs at the highest quality when she is as well. But yeah, I think the only thing that they'll take away from that second half is that they probably could have been a little bit more comfortable and got a couple more goals.

Because the way that they outpressed and out-created Leont, I think, was very impressive. Yeah, maybe a little bit of a hangover from the international brain. I know Arsenal toiled a little bit in that first half, Emily, conceded within 20 minutes, thanks to a very nice finish. What did Leon do well in the first 45 to put them under pressure, do you think? In the first half, they came out pretty controlled and pretty good in terms of possession and really trying to force Arsenal onto the back foot. And it did work, but they weren't productive enough in the final third.

They only had that one shot on target, which was that first goal. And I just didn't really think, obviously, Mersie de Morae, Jonathan Heralda said post-match that she actually wasn't available, but they had quite a lot of reinforcements on the bench. But no one really started incredibly well. And I think when you look at that front three, you look at the attack they've got, they probably really didn't do enough with what they had.

And especially because Arsenal were tying themselves up in knots in that first half. You really expected Leon to capitalize on that and really force Arsenal into more mistakes and try and get a couple more goals to extend their lead. And they just didn't really do that. So I don't know if it was a combination of things where they weren't really expecting Arsenal to come out in the second half, with a lot more gumption and really a far better performance.

But I just don't think they took their chances either. And I think that's probably where they lost control a bit more because had they done that early enough, while Arsenal were struggling, it wouldn't have been such an open second half. And I think that's probably ultimately where they'll be kicking themselves today, reflecting on that going really didn't do enough. We love a cliche, don't we?

The second half was a completely different story. Game of two halves, like every player said it. Tim, they outperformed Leon offensively in that second half. Arsenal. What do you feel Renee Slegger's and her staff tweaked during the break that proved so effective after the break? And will they be a little frustrated that they didn't score more? Yeah, I think in the first half, they were rushing things a little bit. So clearly they wanted, you know, Engin and Renard, brilliant, brilliant defenders, but probably not loads of recovery pace. I think they were just rushing it in the first half. They were just too early to try that

ball over the top and they kept losing it. I think they were just a little bit more patient in the second half. They're actually, they were playing those through balls a bit lower as well, so that they weren't just looping through to the goalkeeper. I also think there's perhaps something in the fact that Leon possibly aren't used to being put under pressure in the second half of games because they're quite often, games are over for them. You know, I don't want to say that too confidently because there is a second leg to come, but I did think there was perhaps something in that as well. But I think overall as well for Arsenal, I think they had one player in Olivia Smith, who has under 50 appearances

for Arsenal. They're one player under 27, and that was Olivia Smith as well. I just think this Arsenal team, they've been together so long, they've got a lot of experience playing together, and they've been through these situations before. So I do think there was something in that as well, in terms of them just showing their kind of their IQ, I would say, in this competition, and having played this opponent so often in the last couple of years. Yeah, let's talk about Leon's defending as well. Both of Arsenal's goals came about through pretty calamitous situations involving Christiane Anir and Ingrid Engen.

This is a side that I've only conceded nine goals in the French top division in 20 games. Were you a little bit surprised at how chaotic they looked at times, Sophie? Yeah, I think in the first half, they were pretty calm. But I think as soon as that mistake came from Endler with the equalizer for Arsenal, everyone just kind of lost their heads a little bit collectively. Other than Wendy Renard, I thought Randy Renard was very, very good throughout. But I think they just got a bit chaotic. And as Tim said, they probably haven't been in that situation very many times in the last year.

I think this is their second defeat in the whole season. So, yeah, I think it probably just got into their heads a bit and it just became a calamity. I will say for the second goal, though, I think it was much about Arsenal's press and front-footedness and Olivia Smith's desire to get on the end of the end of the time. the shot and to pick herself off out of the heap and realise there was an opportunity for herself as anything. But yeah, it was a bit of a calamitous situation that they'll be hoping to earn out, I imagine, next week. But the communication just seemed a little bit off between the goalkeeper and the central defender. Yeah, Tim mentioned Olivia Smith as well and her age

in the side relative to everyone else in that team. I actually interviewed her on Tuesday, really lovely. And talked a little bit about how easy she finds it to settle into places because she moves around so quick, so maybe that has helped a little bit. The young player was the recipient of some rough treatment, though, throughout for Leon, but came up trumps with the winner. She loves scoring at the Emirates, doesn't she, Emily? Yeah, and I think that just speaks to her character as well, that she can get knocked back in games and still come out with a winning goal.

I think a lot of the times you don't really realise how young she is. I think just the way she plays her football and the way she carries herself, you forget she's what, 22, 21? And I think like Tim was saying, she slots in to that team so well. And she doesn't look like she's a young player by a couple of years compared to her teammates. And I think, you know, she is an incredible player. And she was an incredible signing for Arsenal. And I think it's been one of the signings of the season that they've been able to unlock so much more in her in her.

Because at Liverpool, she was a really, really good talent. But I think she has taken that next step up at Arsenal. I think that also speaks to the club and how they've really worked with her to harness her strengths, but also work with the team around her. You can see sort of players have shuffled their game to really help her get on the ball in those areas and to really help her game because you know what she can do.

And I think that really speaks to Sleggers and the team of how well they've been able to do the season. And I think she's going to be really key for them in the second leg, but I think she's also going to be really key going forward and potentially what could end up being a bit of a title race at the back end, we have to see. But these next couple of games in hand, I think she is going to be a key feature for them as well.

Yeah, when I spoke to her on Tuesday and didn't make the piece because I didn't have enough space, but she said some really, really lovely stuff about the work she's done with Renee, in particular, the confidence that she's been given and the belief in her and the impact that has had, which was really lovely. And then hearing Renee, after that match, speak about, live in reverse was really, really nice too. I think they've clearly built up quite a good relationship. Thinking back to a year ago, and this same fixture ended with the opposite scoreline, Leon taking a win home, Arsenal, of course, able to turn it around in style on that occasion.

How do they handle the situation being different this time around him? And do we think we're going to see a bit of a different Leon's side in this game? Because they'd be very aware of that threat of Arsenal in their ground. Yeah, I do think it'll be quite different. I mean, Leon's team was slightly more conservative, largely due to injuries. So usually they'd have Selma Bashar at left back, who's not really a left back at all. she'll push up quite a bit more than Sophie Svava, although Svava had a big part in Leon's goal as well.

And listen, as an Arsenal man, I was delighted not to see D'Amorne on the team. She scored three goals against Arsenal in the last three games, I think. And Jonathan Joraldes says that she'll be back for the second leg, which scares me a bit, I'm not going to lie. I think that was a significant loss for them. I think she's up there as the best player in the world and someone who's just so, so devastating and so difficult to defend against.

And obviously, it being in Leon as well, I do expect it to be quite different. At the same time, I think Arsenal can take heart from the fact that first of all, Leon will leave space. And Arsenal have seen that in their last two games in that stadium. They've won 5-1 and 4-1. I think the other bit of heart that Arsenal should take from the second leg, if you look at the goals, I'm going to say that Leon have given to Arsenal, in the last few kind of times that the teams have met,

even the second leg last year. Again, I'm just not sure how used to being put under pressure, Leon, are particularly when it comes to a high press. I'm not sure that many teams in their domestic league do that to them. And if I were Arsenal, I'd kind of say, yep, let's be solid, let's keep our shape, but there's something for us here on the counter attack. And if we can press them and get after them,

we've seen over a few games that the goalkeeper or one of the centrebacks, might give you something. Yeah, and teams struggle when Arsenal problem solve on the pitch as well, when they're not playing particularly well, like in that first half or, you know, kind of things aren't clicking quite so well. You know, and they start to work it out and you can see them find the rhythm of the game a little bit and they can find the openings and the second half looks very different, partly for that reason.

I think teams really struggle with a team that kind of starts to figure them out mid-match, don't necessarily have a response to that too. In the other semi-final, 10-player by Munich earned a draw against Barcelona at the Allianz Arena, Francisco Kett cancelled out Eva Paior's early opener to ensure they remained in the tie going into next week's game at the Camp New. Conceding early is always a concern, particularly against the side that you lost 7-1-2 earlier in the campaign. How impressed were you with Byron's response to manage to grind out a draw, Sof? Yeah, I will be honest, I was really worried for them when that goal went in in eight minutes. I was like the one thing you do not want to do, the one thing the manager would have told them

would not, don't concede early against this Barcelona team because once they get going, once they get motoring, you really fear for the opposition. But they never really did that. And I think Bayern were really brave in their response. They really stepped up. They put their, you know, a lot of teams, and it's worked, to some degree, like when we saw Arsenal play in Lisbon last year, you know, set up really structurally well.

I don't think Bayan have as much defensively about them. I think that's their main worry this season, is that the defence is a bit all over the place. But they went on the front foot a bit, and they started finding the spaces, and they started taking the game to Barcelona. and finding the width. And Kett had a brilliant game

until the incident where she was sent off. Penela Hardo, of course, she's a champion, right? And she really led by example. Yeah, I think they can take a lot of heart. I think the second half will be a bit of a disappointment for them just because they sat off a bit more in the second half and kind of protected that draw. Maybe they just didn't have the energy or the legs

to really take it to Barcelona. It's a lot of, you know, you're doing a lot of work without the ball, aren't you? You're doing a lot of running. And maybe they just ran out of steam and to take a draw into the Camp NU is really vital. But I think they'll look at that second half as an opportunity, maybe a little bit missed, to really take an advantage. No, Bon Mati as well.

So they've got a real opportunity there, which maybe Arsenal had in that first leg with No Domone as well. We do have to talk about a flashpoint in the game when Francisco Kett went from Hero to Zero, seeing red after pulling Salma Parolello's hair. It's sparked a lot of conversation in the aftermath. What did you make of the incident, Emily? I mean, it's the second time we've seen it in the competition

in quite a short space of time with obviously Katie McKayette and Lisa Thompson. And I think, I mean, there are two completely different incidents. And I think one thing that was sort of coming out that I was looking at with analysts was sort of the positioning of the hand and sort of one, when you're going for the shirt, if your hand is sort of, I'm doing, you won't be able to see if you're listening, but I am doing the hand movements. That depending on where your hand positioning is, it kind of shows your intent. And I think with her, it was slightly susceptible that she might have been going for her.

I don't want to make, I don't know what her intention was, but I think that's quite a big thing at the minute of looking at what is the actual intention in it. And I do think, you know, you pull her, it's a red card. I don't think there's any, any squabbling about it. I think what I found interesting was some of the comments after the game from other players sort of saying, you know, maybe this rule needs to be reviewed. And I don't think that's something we should be going down and looking at as a potential eradication of that, because I think it's still a very needed rule in the game. I just think that a lot of it is now sort of a back and forth, depending on which team you're from.

And it was similar with the Chelsea Astro one again, wasn't it? That depending on which team you were supporting, dependent sort of where you sat on what you thought should happen. So I think it's just a shame that we've seen it quite a lot in quite a short space of time. And I remember we were sort of talking about, is that because it's become more prominent or is it becoming a bit more of a tactic to try and go through the shirt and maybe get away with a hairball? I'm not entirely sure.

But following the red card at the Euros and now a couple in the Champions League, I wouldn't be surprised if UEFA was to review how this is handled and depending what the outcomes will be from this. But at the end of that, it was a red card. She made a city decision and she'll miss the next game. And that's going to be a big loss for them because I think Penilla Harder is also suspended. So I think that's going to be a big thing for them that they're going to be without those two players. And I think Barcelona said they could get Bormati back for the second leg, which would be an even

worse sort of side to the coin if you lost two of your best players and then get one of the world's best players in the other side. So I think, yeah, they're going to have to really fight for a win at Campanyu. God, bye, bye, buy, bye. That's a bit harsh. It's a difficult task with all of those thrown in. I agree with you on the hepar link. Like for me, I don't think you can start even, you know, kind of questioning whether something is intentional or not in that circumstance. Players love a loophole. They'll find a way, you know, when you look at goal keepers going down for sort of tactical timeouts and things. Like, they love finding a loophole. pulse. So if you make some kind of rule where the intention is taken into account and you're trying

to work that out, I think it becomes too grey and it just has to be hair, pull his red cards. Like, I think that's just what it has to be, intentional or not. So yeah, it'd be interesting to see where that goes coming up. Tim, going to get a result of the Camp New is a phenomenal challenge for any side, as we've just touched on. What are buying going to have to do to prevent Barcelona heading into yet another final? Yeah, they're going to have to be a mixture of perfect and lucky, I think, is the way I'd put it, you know, even in this first leg, Barser has 73% of the ball, they have 21 shots, you know, Brits hits the post, you know, they have chances in this game. And ultimately, they were probably pretty lucky to come away from this with a 1-1, even if their goal was very

nicely worked. I think without harder as well, that I think that's just such a big miss and really, really tips it, particularly with what she can offer on the counterattack, because that's the way you get Barser, right? You can kind of, they do leave space if you can get the ball off them for 10 seconds. And harder is possibly the best counter-attacking player in the world, I think, when it comes to that kind of situation. So that's such a huge loss away from home. Like, I think with Barser, you know, very much like with Spain, I think in one game,

you might be able to hold them off like this. I think over 180 minutes, it's so tough. as I think Chelsea have found, for example, in the past where Chelsea maybe have got like a decent result in one leg, but over 180 minutes, it just really, really tells. I have to say, I just can't see anything other than a Basa win here. It's the reason why Arsenal did well against them in the final. It's one game, same as Leon when they got the better of them a few years back in the final. One game, much easier to handle than across two legs. So that is it for part one of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly.

in part two we'll catch up on a very eventful weekend in the WSL as the season enters its closing stages. Welcome back to part two of the Guardian Women's Football Weekly. There was an upset on the cards in Crawley as Brighton came from behind to beat Manchester City. A huge victory for Dario Vidichich and his Brighton team. Was this one of the upsets of the season, Soph? I think so. I don't think anyone was particularly expecting it. I think it was a great result for Brighton.

And to do that back-to-back, you know, against Arsenal and the Cup and then come after the international breaking back that up with a big win against Manchester City just shows a lot to Dario about his team, I think, and how they're progressing this season. I have to say, I've been a bit concerned about them at times. I think they had a really poor run in February where they didn't quite, you know, get the results that they wanted or get on a run of form. And you never know where it's going to tail off at that point or whether they're going to be able to pick up. But they've got such a big final block this season against big teams.

They're facing Arsenal again. they've got obviously the FA Cup semi-final as well, big opportunity to get to a final. So there's so much to play for and I think you could see that within the team. They really struggled in the first half, but the way that they came back, the character that they showed,

the energy that they had, and I mean, Frank Kirby, I mean, she's absolutely magic. I understand why Madison Haley got the player of the match because of her two goals and she was brilliant, but Frank Kirby is the piece that makes everything tick offensively for that Brighton team. She's so intelligent, so experienced,

She knows what to do in those moments. And I hope she never retires. Me too, because it'll make me feel very old. It's like Kim Little, right? You just want them to keep playing forever. Wonderful, wonderful player. The pass for the Seki goal was just so beautifully placed and, you know, kind of away from where you think she's going to play it into feet.

That, to me, summed up Fran. And also hugely impressive their sort of runner form at this part of the season. And as you say, they had that block where they kind of were. weren't as strong and huge credit to them getting back to the swing of things after Dario has come back in following the death of his dad after a bit of time away. I think that ruptured though momentum quite a bit and obviously that takes an emotional toll as well. Rado was also a coach at the club too. So it's great that they're having this great finish to the season. Man City started really brightly, Emily.

Probably should have had four before half time. Where did the game get away from them, do you think? I always don't like to say things like complacency, but I think they sort of assure. they were going to have a lot more opportunities to keep getting more goals. And they have, you know, if you look at their stats this season, they've had most chances created, most goals, you'd expect them to have multiple opportunities to have changed and scored more. But I think they sort of rested a little bit on their laurels and was a bit like, oh, we'll have more opportunities and, you know, it's okay. Whereas actually they had to take those chances

and it was their mistake for not doing it because then once Bright and settled and got into the game, it was a different story. And then sitting on the back foot and suddenly those chances become fewer and harder to get. So I think they probably, like I said before, didn't really expect Brighton to come out so well and so strongly. And I think that is, you've seen what Brighton can do when they need to get results. I think you look back at,

I'm sure Tim won't want to remember the Brighton game last season. But you know what they can do when they have an opportunity to get a team. And I think they saw an opportunity to get at City on the weekend, and they did. So I just think City was slightly too slow to react to the fact that similar guess how we're talking about Leon and Arsenal, I don't think they really expected teams to put them under such pressure and then force them into errors and reduce their ability to score goals. And I think that's what Brighton did.

And I don't think City were expecting it. So they've done enough City to have given themselves a good enough cushion that this one loss doesn't actually mean huge amounts, but it does put pressure on Arsenal that if they can win their games in hand and City slip up against Liverpool, then we've got a different story. So it has put a bit of pressure on them, but I still think City are in a good place and this won't completely derail them.

Fun that it's being mixed up a little bit at the end though. The title race remains very much in their hands, as you said, Emily. Andre Jegler's side needed five points from the remaining two games against Liverpool and West Ham. Alex Greenwood said post-match that these were the moments for their character to show. I think she also said that, you know, this is two-cup finals for them now. Will there be any concern amongst their ranks, do you think, Tim?

Yeah, possibly, particularly because of the way they lost the title two seasons ago. Again, speaking as an Arsenal man, maybe I recognize this a little bit when you get a bit of a lead in the title race and you've not done it for a while. And it starts to get a bit nervy when it's in sight. So yeah, I think there will be. I think, listen, in this game, City should have won this. They had 17 shots and only six of them were on target. Brighton had nine and put seven of them on target.

That's where the game is decided here and by Frank Kirby as well. And by the way, I think the other great thing about Frank. Kirby is maybe four or five years ago she's running on to some of those through balls, but now she's playing them, and that's what great players do. They kind of evolve over time in accordance with their kind of physical capabilities. But I think my slight complaint here as well is just how lopsided the league schedule has been. Arsenal v. Lester, which was, originally set for January, we knew from the second the schedule was put together, that game could not be played at that time because of the FIFA Champions Cup.

It should have been arranged much earlier in the season. So we don't have this situation where we don't really know if we have a title race at the moment. Like it's just because Arsenal are so many games behind. Obviously the Champions League semifinals, that changes the picture a little bit. But, I mean, ultimately, even at the end, City could have got this back for a point.

I mean, Yamashita nearly scores an equalizer. So at the end, she'd connected with her head on that. I think she might have. So on one hand, City could probably write this off as a bit of an unlucky game. But I do think there'll be nerves there, but they've got Liverpool and West Ham, I think, left. They really ought to get that over the line, I think. Yeah, and let's not forget that Arsenal, after their Champions League semi-final at the weekend, have Brighton and Aston Villa up next to teams that were big banana skins for them at the end of the last season

as they were racing towards that Champions League finals. That's going to be interesting. Chelsea put in an eye-catching second-half performance to earn a comfortable win over Everton at Goodison Park. Sonia Bompastor's side-1-for-1, thanks to a brace from Samka and goals from Ellie Carpenter and Aaron Cuff. But Bonpastor said beforehand that every game is a must win if they're to secure Champions League football. How pleased will she be with the way her side got this final block of games underway, so? Yeah, I think very pleased, especially against the opposition. They did it.

You remember back in just before the winter break when Everton undid Chelsea, I think that really undid the momentum, by winning at King's Meadow and ending that kind of long winning streak, unbeaten streak that they had. I think this was really won as much for the points as for the pride as well and to show that they could get it done against a team who will sit back and will try and defend. And, you know, Everton had something like, I think in the first half, it was like 25% possession again.

And there may have been a bit of concern when, you know, Mamiki goes off and equalises and it's, you're starting to think, oh no, this is happening to us again. But I think they really turned it on in the second half. Sam Kerr is proving herself but I think across the team it was just really important to get this block underway. There are some nerves at Chelsea.

I know they should be okay for Champions League but it's not done yet and they will have wanted to especially going to FA Cup semi-finals as well. You need momentum, you need form and this will have helped them massively for that. Interesting to see players who are coming towards the end of their contract like putting performances that imply that they maybe shouldn't be leaving their clubs.

The likes of Katie McKay, the lights of Sam Kerr, Like it's an interesting summer ahead. Speaking of Kurt, her two goals put her level with Frank Kirby and Chelsea's all-time WSL scoring record. She was denied the outright record and a hat trick when the referee deemed the Bournewell hadn't crossed the line. Replay showed that it definitely did. And you could see the fury in her when it didn't cross, was a judge to have not crossed the line. There's a lot of talk about her future, Emily. Did this feel like a bit of a statement from her?

I think, yeah. I think the thing with Sam is that she was out for 22 months. And that's a really long time to be away from football. And I think there was a slight wrong expectation from fans that it's going to take her weeks or a couple of months to get back to that form that she had before she got injured. Because she is still one of the best strikers in the world. And I think there was this sort of expectation that she was going to come back,

having been away for such a long time, and start scoring left, right and center. And it takes time. It takes time for players to come back and build. It takes time for them to find momentum. Even to come over, you know, muscle weaknesses and things that you have, having been out, you know, she was out for an ACL, but everything else isn't working in those 22 months. You're not playing football. So it can take a lot of time to find rhythm again.

And I'm really pleased that she is starting to find that again. I think it's the quality that she has. And it has taken a really long time for her to find her feet again from that, from before that ACL. And it's just nice for a player, I think, to really be coming back into their own. I can imagine it's a really long time when you're a footballer to not play football and then not be playing football to the level that you know you can play at. So I think mentally it's a really positive thing before the end of the season that she's coming back into gear now. And yeah, she definitely deserves all of the records.

I think she's been such an important player for the club through so many years. I think I hit toss-ups from fans of whether she should stay, whether she should go. And I think that probably speaks to the level of quality that she has, that the fan base is torn whether or not she should stay or go because she is getting older. and the club do need to bring in younger strikers and more options. They haven't really had a number nine, pretty much all season. Everyone's sort of been carrying injuries or managed minutes. But then at the same time, she's a player that you will back to score in every game at any point,

especially when you need a goal. So she is an incredible player, and I do think it's a really tough decision, whether she stays or goes on both sides of it. But yeah, I am just really glad for her as a player that she's finding this form. and I think it raises that conversation about goal line technology. I think everyone is, you know, VAR. We've seen VAR not really working well. It hasn't been used where we've needed it to be used in the Champions League.

But I don't think there is any reason to not have goal line. I don't know of a valid argument to not have goal line technology at this point in the league. So I think, again, that brings up that question. And it's somewhat disappointing that some of the narrative around that game is about the technology once again. But I think we're getting to a point where there aren't any real reason. to argue against having goal line. VAR is a different story, but goal line I think we do need it in the game.

Yeah, exactly not consequential in this game in the end, but when you look at, say, England against Spain at Wembley, it's goal line technology that gives that goal. You know, that's qualification for the World Cup in the balance, right? Like there's big things at stake. It does feel like an easy win for the WSL. On to Manchester United, they faltered once again in their quest for Champions League football

after being held to a goalless draw by Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mark's going to side very much second best in this one, Tim. Where did it go wrong for them? How frustrated will Spurs be that they couldn't take more from that encounter? Yeah, I mean, Spurs have 22 shots in this game, and again, only five of them on target. And actually, some of the ones that were on target, for example, Gunning Williams goes through at the end, pretty much one-on-one, and it's a pretty tame effort. So from Tottenham's point of view, they created a lot of threat.

They created threat from set pieces as well. I think Fallantilus Joyce is a great goalkeeper, but perhaps that's a bit of a weakness. They identified and they missed some real sitters, but only getting five on target, that's really the only reason United get any points here. And United, to me, they look shocked to me. And I don't think it's a huge surprise given, you know,

the qualifiers they went through. They played the first half of the season with about 13 players, really. And they were just really kind of scrapped. I think Spurs get 86% pass accuracy, 80% for United, giving the ball away far too often, particularly on, you know, this should have been a nicer game for United on a bigger pitch than it would have been at Orient, for example. But Spurs actually seem to take to that much, much better than United. And to me, United just looked like they're waiting for the season to end.

But for Tottenham, particularly with some of the attacking additions they've made, perhaps if Beth England had been able to feature in this game, one of those chances might have gone in. But they create a lot of threat spurs, but they need to be more clinical, basically. But United, I think, quite fortunate to come out of this with a point. The team that were clinical was London City. I think this was their biggest scoring game.

Lester City's problems deepened even further, though, as a result with the 5-1 defeat to London City. Rick Passmore cut a very frustrated figure after the game, admitted this team weren't good enough in the way they let the game get away from them. They now sit seven points off West Ham. Is it over for them, Sof? In terms of the league, yes,

but I think they still have to try and find themselves something to build on ahead of that playoff because they have a real opportunity. They have a second stab at staying in the division against the third place, WSL2 side. And they need to find something in these last few games. It's a really tricky run of games. They've got Arsenal and Chelsea, if I'm not wrong, next.

So that's going to be tricky. But you just need to find something to hang on. on to, I think, and some level of performance, you can kind of accept the result is probably not going to go your way, but I think they just need to find that little bit that they can go. We've got this. We can prove ourselves against this WSL2 team. I think it's really unfortunate. I was interviewing Rick Passmore after the game, and he was very disappointed about, I think, just the way that they didn't come out in the second half at all. They've done so well in the first half, they got their goal, they took the lead, and then they conceded within like two minutes of taking

the lead and it's managing those moments and that's just a sign of where they're at as a team I think at the moment that kind of confidence being low just not being able to manage those highs and those lows and just kind of making a rod for their own back a little bit I mean rip pass more as a trooper he has said that you know they just have to keep enjoying playing football in this league and it's a privilege to play for the football club and they need to hold on to that and he will keep fighting to the very end and I'm no doubt his players were will too I think they were also really really harmed by injury. They have a depleted squad.

They were without Lightzig who got a hand injury in training. They were without Emily Van Egman, who also got a hand injury in training. There'd been a bug in the camp all week. You know, when you're thinking about luck, it was definitely not on their side either in the buildup. So hopefully that can change around in the last few weeks of the season. Yeah, I was saying at the start of the season, I thought the team that finishes bottom is a shoe-in for winning that playoff. But increasingly, when you look at WSL2, I don't think that is even as, you know, kind of

written as many people probably would have fought when that game was announced. So it's a really interesting spot to be in and, you know, very, very difficult for them to dig themselves out of that hole with the games they've got next as well. Finally, West Ham earned a 1-0 victory on their travels to Liverpool thanks to an early own goal from Kenelia Capux. A big performance from Rita Greiner's side. They came under pressure from Liverpool but managed to protect that early lead. How relieved will they be to have all but secures their safety, Emily? I think hugely, I think when you look back at sort of the seasons that Liverpool and West Ham have had, I think they've done really well to sort of bring themselves back up and get some of those key games.

And, you know, it's one of those things that Lester unfortunately have sort of given themselves too much of a gap to really overcome. I think when you look at it and you look at the games left, like Sov said, it's pretty much done for them, unfortunately. But that doesn't mean that West Ham and Liverpool are going to take their feet off the gas. We know what could happen in the back end of the season. And it's not a wise decision to sort of rest on that. So I think it's a really positive thing from both teams that they did come out fighting. And I think it's a huge boost for West Ham because they haven't had a great season. There's not a lot they're going to look back on this season and go, we're really proud of that.

It sounds harsh to say. But when you look at the results, you look at the games that they probably should have took points from that they didn't. There's not a lot that I think you look back on and go, it's been a good season. So to sort of end it, like so said, with a bit of a positivity at the back end, it's super important going into a big season. And obviously we look at it from the perspective of this. was a season where you kind of expected teams to have invested a bit more because of that risk of relegation was so narrow. And I was skeptical that it would maybe do the opposite and teams would sort of rest a little bit and use it as an excuse maybe not to invest so much. And I think

you could argue both sides for many, many teams at the minute, especially when you look at the championship, they've definitely invested to get themselves those top three teams to try and get themselves into the WSL. But I think it was probably slightly a missed opportunity for West Ham and Liverpool. Obviously Liverpool did invest really well in January, but I think when you look at it, this was probably a bit of a missed opportunity to really use this season to try and climb the table a bit more. But they were outdone really by the social starts that they both had since the season. So there was little they could really do now to change their positioning. But I think it's a super big win for them. And I think especially going into the next season when a Greener will

have a full season in charge, I think it's super important to pick up these points now just to sort of give a boost and also to sort of re-inject a bit of belief into the manager from the team because I can imagine it's really tough when you change managers halfway through a season and then don't get all the results that you maybe assume you're going to get under a new manager. So positive all around for West Ham, but I don't think it's either the end of the world for Liverpool either. I was just going to add in that I think Garif Taylor has the opportunity to really fire up his squad and himself for the Sunday's game. I was going to say it when we were talking about Manchester City earlier, but we all know the history.

If he can devise a way to get any kind of result out of that game, I think it would be a massive confidence boost for himself and a bit of a sign to City that he wasn't quite done with that team. And yeah, I think it could be quite a narrative come Sunday. And then Chloe Kelly can lift the league title at Amfield on the final day and the narrative spiral be complete. I think the teams need to deliver to this narrative. putting my completely unbiased hat on.

So moving down a little bit to the top of the Barclays WSL2 where it's also quite exciting, probably a little bit more exciting than what is likely a fork on conclusion at the top of the Barclays WSL. The penultimate weekend of WSL2 continue to throw up a surprise after surprise with it all to play for going into the last match day. Matt is at the other end of the table, however, have already been decided, defeat to Nottingham Forest, Berm Portsmouth's relegation from the division.

Ipswich Town put three past frontrunners, Birmingham City to no reply in the first shock of the afternoon. It was a result that guaranteed the tractor girls their safety while also having massive ramifications at the top. With Birmingham's advantage gone, Charlton knew that victory to Southampton would put them back in the driving seat for the title. They thought they had done it when Emma Bissell scored from the spot in the 92nd minute. The Saints had other ideas, however, levelling in the 94th minute to ensure the points

were shared. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, remained very much in the conversation. with an impressive 2-1 win away to Sunderland. It means that going into the last day, Charlton sit on 42 points with Birmingham and Palace behind on one point. Birmingham have the best goal difference of the three by some margin. They travel to the Valley on Saturday for a winner-takes-it-all game while Palace host Portsmouth.

Can you call it, Tim? Well, what's really interesting, and I'd be interested to know how deliberate this is. This is the second WSL-2 season in a row. we're getting a straight shootout on the final day because it was LCLV Birmingham last year. And the WSL2, I'm tempted to say on one hand that this kind of, the new kind of promotion model has kind of really kicked things up a gear and has really, you know, some of those teams around the edges of promotion have really gone for it.

But to be fair, this is not a unique season in the WSL2. This does seem to happen quite a bit. There do seem to be, you know, two or three teams who could come up. I find that so difficult to call. I mean, to be fair, Charlton have kind of collapsed quite significantly over the last four to five games. The pressure seems to have told on them. But at the same time, Birmingham losing 3-0 to Ipswich doesn't suggest that they're

managing the pressure either. It kind of feels like, you know, again, you know, talking about this with Man City, like the enormity of the prize when it comes into view, it really kind of increases that pressure quite a bit. And so I'd say don't be surprised if Palace sneak it on the final day on that basis. It's going to be thrilling. It's going to be a thrilling end to the season. A couple of that with Champions League football, the City Liverpool game, it's all to play for. It's very exciting. It's going to be a big weekend. The FAA Women's National League also concluded on Sunday. Burnley secured the Northern Premier League title on the final day of the season, while Watford had

already won the Southern Premier. Both will be promoted ultimat. dramatically to the WSL2. Wolves and Plymouth Fagile will finish second in their respective divisions and will take part in the playoffs for a spot in WSL2 on Monday the 4th of May. Halifax, Sporting Kouser, Guaralier United and Billerickey Town have been relegated to Division 1.

Huddersfield Town, North, Peterborough, United Midlands, Fulham, South East and Swindon Town, Southwest are the four Division 1 champions and they will all play in the Premier Division next year. There are also two playoffs for the two final promotion places, Bouldmore St. Michael's will take on Cheadle Town Stingers on Saturday the 2nd of May and Norwich City will then face money fields on the following day.

Doncaster Bells, Blackburn Rovers, Storbridge, Lincoln United, AFC, Sudbury, Cheshion United, Portishead Town and Worthing have all been relegated into the regional leagues. I loved doing that little bit. That was really fun. I felt like I was on telly. That's it for this week's episode. Thank God, Faye will be back next week and we can all settle back into normal proceedings. again. Emily, thanks for coming on and joining me through this unusual ride of a episode. Thank you. No, you're very, very good. Very good. Tim, see you on Wednesday night? Yes, yeah. And my pleasure as always. Thank you. And Sof, enjoy the sun. Is it sunny? It is very sunny, and I'm going to go and eat this massive quasson. It's huge. It's huge for the viewers.

Very stereotypical. The listeners, even. The viewers can see. The listeners can't. Keep having your say by sending in your questions via X or emailing us at the Guardian.com. Until then, this is also your regular reminder to sign up for our biweekly women's football newsletter. All you need to do is search Moving the Gold Posts sign up. The Guardian Women's Football Weekly is produced by Sophie Downey and Silas Gray. Music composition was by Laura Iodale. Our executive producer is Joel Grove.

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