Nick Cushing is ‘obsessed with winning trophies’ ahead of Man City’s cup final

Nick Cushing admitted he is “obsessed with winning trophies” ahead of opening his second spell in charge of Manchester City with Saturday’s Women’s League Cup final.

City face Chelsea at Pride Park, five days on from sacking head coach Gareth Taylor and bringing Cushing back as interim boss for the rest of the season.

Cushing guided City to their first major trophy when they won the League Cup in 2014 and they subsequently lifted the Women’s Super League title, the FA Cup and the League Cup again before he departed in 2020.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s clash with Sonia Bompastor’s WSL leaders, Cushing told a press conference: “It’s a good challenge.

“We’re playing against the best team in the league, in an amazing stadium, with an opportunity to win. We won this cup as my first trophy in 2014 and since that moment on, I’ve been obsessed with winning trophies.”

Cushing returns with City lying fourth in the WSL, outside the Champions League places by a point, having played a game more than third-placed Arsenal.

Saturday’s contest is the first of four consecutive meetings with Chelsea, who they play home and away in the Champions League quarter-finals, either side of a league encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

City also have an FA Cup semi-final clash at home against Manchester United next month.

Cushing said: “I’m confident in my ability as a coach and when I look around the dressing room, I’m confident we can be competitive.

“I said to the players, if I didn’t believe in the group and I didn’t believe this was going to be an exciting challenge, I wouldn’t have taken it.

“As coaches we want to prepare our teams to go against the best and the next four games are the ultimate challenge for our group, so we have to embrace it and attack it.

“The league position is not ideal, but the reality is we’re in all four competitions and the Champions League place is still achievable.”

The 40-year-old, who from 2020-2024 was working in men’s football as assistant and then head coach at New York City FC, also said “it would be crazy to look any further than the end of the season based on the games we have coming up”, regarding how long he might be in charge for.

After Chelsea’s trophy-laden years under Emma Hayes, Bompastor arrived last summer and has overseen a remarkable season for the team so far, with them still unbeaten in all competitions, having won all but two matches.

The Frenchwoman said of the chance to claim the first silverware of her tenure: “I will be the most happy person if we win on Saturday but just for my players and for the club.

“The game is an opportunity for the club to grab the first trophy. We said from the beginning of the season, we want to be in every competition in a position where we can fight for titles. It’s a really important moment for the club.

“I’m expecting Nick to be able to bring some positive energy to City, but we are ready.”

Chelsea’s absentees include Naomi Girma and former City midfielder Keira Walsh. City remain without Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp, who Cushing says he thinks “have a desire to play before the end of the season”.