When it came down to it, Manchester City ultimately knew that if they were to have any chance of turning this season’s dominance into a dynasty, they might need to break some of their own rules.
As my Daily Mail Sport colleague Jack Gaughan recently wrote about the end of the Roberto Mancini era, the toxicity of the Italian’s final 18 months in charge led City executives to decide that a manager would never again be allowed to become the most powerful figure in the building.
And yet, when Pep Guardiola asked them to hand over the keys, there was nothing they could say other than yes to the world’s best manager. Six Premier League titles and a Treble later, it stands to reason.
Likewise, when star striker Bunny Shaw’s contract negotiations appeared to be winding down, with the gap between the two parties seemingly unable to be bridged and Chelsea circling, City paused for thought.
Perhaps their desire to keep a lid on wages was no longer advisable when the greatest women’s striker – who had played a crucial role in their first league title in a decade – was on the verge of leaving for a direct rival.
Instead, they chose to make her the best-paid player in the world, according to reports, and won another trophy with them less than a week later.
Shaw showed, over 90 minutes in front of 43,000 spectators at Wembley exactly why City raised their game at the 11th hour.
The 29-year-old Jamaican was involved in the first three goals here against Brighton – scoring against the run of play for the first, winning the foul for Alex Greenwood’s superb free-kick to convert the second, then charging at goal and squaring it for Aoba Fujino for the third.
Shaw was involved in the first three goals, including scoring against the run of play for the first and winning the foul for Alex Greenwood’s superb free-kick to convert the second
City’s squad depth proved decisive against a Brighton side who had beaten them in the WSL only last month
Miedema’s conversion, City’s fourth, was merely the icing on the cake of a superb season for the league champions and Andree Jeglertz’s first in charge.
‘To finish on a high like this is something that in your wildest dreams you don’t think of when starting this job,’ the City boss said.
‘We struggled in the first half. Brighton were very good but didn’t create many chances. We needed to figure out how to manage their rotations and we did better after 30 minutes and in the second half.’
Brighton were by far the better side in the opening half-hour, with the remnants of City’s title celebrations – including the relief of Shaw sensationally announcing she would be staying for the next four years – still lingering. As midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown confirmed after the game, they had all been taken completely unawares.
‘We didn’t know at the time. When we found out on stage, it was a really nice moment and we all enjoyed it,’ the young Lioness said.
Yet it was Shaw’s intervention in the 30th minute, rising highest to get City up and running, that shifted the momentum and set them on course for their first FA Cup triumph in six years.
As for Brighton, although they arrived as heavy underdogs, they played with intensity and courage and were worthy finalists.
This was their first appearance in the showpiece – having knocked out Arsenal and Liverpool to get here – but the immensity of the occasion appeared to tell as they struggled to convert their early chances.
Shaw sensationally announced earlier this week that she would be staying for another four years – after a new contract was signed at the 11th hour
They were ultimately punished, particularly in the second half, as City’s squad depth proved decisive against a team who had stunned them in the WSL only last month and caused their title celebrations to temporarily hit pause.
The Seagulls made the brighter start. Matildas defender Charlize Rule threaded a fine pass through the lines towards Kiko Seike in the opening few minutes, who delivered into the box; after a ricochet off a City player, the ball fell to Fran Kirby. The former Chelsea striker could not generate enough power to trouble the goal, and City scrambled clear.
Brighton continued to threaten, catching out City’s high line as four players surged towards goal, but captain Maisie Symonds opted to shoot from 25 yards, and the chance went begging.
By the half-hour mark, Brighton had spurned six opportunities, with only one on target and City were stunned.
A few minutes later, Shaw slipped the ball through to Clinton, who could only muster a tame effort. Shaw then tried her luck herself moments later.
On the touchline, Jeglertz had at last seen signs of life from his side. City had finally stirred.
Seconds later, Greenwood delivered a cross and Shaw rose above the defence, heading through Chiamaka Nnadozie’s hands and into the net.
On the edge of half time, Shaw was adjudged to have been brought down on the edge of the penalty area. The tackle was soft but the referee pointed down at the ground inside the D.
Greenwood, City’s captain and deadball technician, stepped up. Based on where the referee ordered her to place the ball, she might have felt the angle was too central to generate sufficient whip.
But it made no difference. The two-time European champion dispatched a low, bending effort into the bottom right-hand corner, and the net bulged.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Miedema then capped off the perfect afternoon, heading home for the league champions’ fourth
She sprinted half the length of the pitch to embrace goalkeeping coach and set-piece coach Diego Restrepo.
After the break, City cranked up the gears.
Once again, Shaw surged down the wing and this time squared across the face of goal. Fujino found the pass and cut inside onto her left foot; although the chance appeared to have gone, she found a gap and squeezed the ball past Nnadozie.
Late in the second half, Nnadozie tipped another Shaw effort over the bar – the striker’s final intervention before coming off Laura Coombs to rapturous applause.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Miedema then capped off the perfect afternoon, heading home for the league champions’ fourth.
‘What a season. What a way to end it,’ Greenwood added. ‘We enjoyed ourselves after winning the league. We enjoyed being winners but today was about what champions do.’
On this evidence, it was a gamble they will have no regrets making.
