After a four-year absence, Manchester City Women are back in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. City fans proudly sang, “We’re all going on a European tour!” as they watched their team secure a commanding 8-0 aggregate victory over Paris FC at Joie Stadium. This dominant performance marks the end of City’s Champions League hiatus since their last appearance in 2020-21.

City’s European return is long overdue. The team’s last notable run saw them defeat Barcelona 2-1 in the quarter-final second leg of the 2020-21 campaign—making them the only team to beat the eventual winners in Europe. However, they lost 4-2 on aggregate, and failed to qualify for the competition in subsequent years after back-to-back eliminations by Real Madrid.

Redemption and a Fresh Start

This season’s qualification offers Manchester City a fresh start. Chloe Kelly and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw were key in City’s resounding victory over Paris FC, securing the team’s place in the Champions League group stage. City manager Gareth Taylor expressed optimism, saying, “This is where we want to be… I’ve always felt we had a real shot if we could just get there.”

Despite underperforming in recent years—City’s last trophy being the 2022 Continental League Cup—the club is now set to make a significant impact in Europe. Taylor emphasized that not winning last season’s Women’s Super League (WSL) had cost them an automatic Champions League spot, forcing the team to prepare rigorously for the qualifying stages.

Paris FC, who famously knocked out Arsenal and Wolfsburg last season, stood little chance against City. Paris manager Sandrine Soubeyrand admitted after the first leg, “We’ve never faced a team like them before. They’re technically strong, athletic, and handle the ball well. It’s the kind of football I love.”

What Lies Ahead for City?

With the group-stage draw guaranteeing a matchup against a domestic champion—either Barcelona, Lyon, or Bayern Munich—the road ahead will be challenging. Taylor is optimistic, stating, “We can go a long way… Anything can happen.”

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However, City will have to manage their squad carefully as they face the demands of competing in the WSL, FA Cup, Continental Cup, and Champions League. Taylor acknowledged the challenge of rotation but welcomed it as part of competing at the highest level.

Experience, Depth, and Financial Growth

While Manchester City has a strong squad, including European Championship winners, only two players—Leila Ouahabi and Jill Roord—have recent Champions League final experience. Competing against dominant sides like Lyon and Barcelona will test City’s squad depth and experience.

Beyond on-pitch success, the Champions League presents significant commercial opportunities for the club. According to City Women’s managing director Charlotte O’Neill, Champions League participation boosts the club’s global profile, matchday revenue, and brand visibility. “We’re on a journey to become the best women’s sporting organization in the world,” O’Neill explained. Financial sustainability is at the core of this vision, with Champions League progression providing essential revenue streams.

For instance, City earned €100,000 for defeating Paris FC and another €400,000 for making the group stage. Further group-stage victories and deep runs in the tournament could bring in additional revenue, with the final prize pot reaching up to €350,000.

Manager Gareth Taylor is hopeful that this revenue will be reinvested to further strengthen the squad. “In the women’s game, we feel like we belong in the Champions League because we are a big team with huge ambitions.”