Crazy schedule sees Chelsea play Man City four times in 12 days

Chelsea scored two late goals to win their WSL home match against Man City in November

When Chelsea face Manchester City on Saturday in the Womens League Cup final, it will be the start of a 12-day battle with the sides playing each other four times in a row.

They will go head-to-head in three competitions. The seasons first piece of silverware will be won at Derbys Pride Park (12:15 GMT kick-off), before a two-legged quarter-final showdown in the Womens Champions League, with a league meeting sandwiched in between.

Chelsea are chasing a quadruple of trophies this season, while City, who could themselves win a trio of titles, must navigate this defining period just days after sacking manager Gareth Taylor.

There is plenty at stake.

Chelsea are used to playing against City for silverware having faced them in both domestic cup finals in 2022.

They have been rivals in the Womens Super League too with Chelsea pipping City to the title last season on goal difference.

But when the clubs were drawn against each other in the Champions League, even the players couldnt believe how the fixtures had panned out.

"We were all like thats crazy!" Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones told BBC Radio London.

Defender Niamh Charles added: "Its so unique. It will be interesting for the fans.

"As a player, were used to changing opposition all the time. But it is what it is. Each game is a separate thing and you attack each one."

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor at least understands what it feels like to play a rival regularly in a short space of time.

While she has never encountered a four-game successive run, her former Lyon side frequently came up against Paris St-Germain in multiple competitions.

Last year, the French sides met three times in a month - and the same happened the season before.

"There was a lot of similarity but we had more space between the games. Against Manchester City it will be four games in 12 days and in three different competitions," Bompastor told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It is a rare thing in football but we are really excited and looking forward to it. Every game will be different. It will be 50-50 from the beginning to the end.

"Sometimes when you play [teams again] three days after, everything is fresh so its sometimes harder. But it is for both teams, so it is the same for them."

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Greenwood shocked by Taylor sacking

As well as facing the best team in England four times in a row, City must find stability following Taylors sudden sacking.

Interim manager Nick Cushing - the former City head coach who led them to their first WSL title nine years ago - met the players on Tuesday and immediately began preparing for Saturdays final in Derby.

Cushing is faced with a daunting task but could an element of surprise work in their favour?

"The way Nick [Cushing] was telling us how to play was really exciting. [Chelsea] wont know what we are going to do," said City forward Kerolin.

"Maybe they expect us to play in the same way we were playing... I guess each game we will try to do something different. This will come more from the coach.

"We know it is hard. We are playing against Chelsea four times in decisive games. We have the final in our head and we want to make history.

"We want to take Chelsea [off the top]. They are at the top, so why not go for them?"

Chelsea remain the team to beat but defender Lucy Bronze - who helped City win their first WSL title under Cushing in 2016 and joined Chelsea from Barcelona last summer - says their work is only just beginning.

"People say Chelsea are unbeaten, what an amazing season. But we havent won anything," she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Have we won the award for most games unbeaten so far? Thats not a trophy. To have the chance to win a trophy is a lot bigger than anything weve done this season so far."

Winning all four trophies this season is Chelseas "unspoken" aim for the season, admits Charles, but City stand in their way.

The possibility of winning the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League remains for City but the league is out of their control given they trail Chelsea by 12 points with six games remaining.

Asked if she had thought about ending Chelseas quadruple hopes, Kerolin said: "Yeah. When I was thinking about it, I thought I know we might not win every game but we can win two or three.

"We will try our best. We are ready for it. We know it will be a hard [task] but we like hard games. Our team has players who have experience in finals.

"This also makes a difference. We know we will not win every game but its important to win the right games."