It could be now or never for Klopp’s side with Manchester City looking so strong and Spurs likely to challenge next seasonWe’ve all been celebrating at Juventus this week after both the men and the women sealed our respective Serie A titles on Sunday. We could not have timed it any better. We beat Verona 3-0 to win our second title in as many years while the guys made it eight consecutive scudetti. I came to Juventus inspired by the winning blood in the veins of the club and I am delighted to have achieved the title in my first season.It has been a really enjoyable few days before our final match, Sunday’s Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina, when we...
Despite new commercial deals being struck, Women’s Super League clubs are struggling to be profitableWomen’s football has a feelgood glow to it. There is a buzz as the World Cup approaches, record league attendances are being set across Europe, and, from Barclays to Boots, brands are throwing their weight behind the sport sensing the potential for rapid growth.But what about the foundations? What is this growth, at domestic level, being built on? What does rapid commercial growth and an acceleration of professionalism mean to the balance books? And, crucially, is it sustainable and, if not, how do we get it there? Related: Manchester City reach Women’s FA Cup final after horror own goal by Chelsea Related: Women’s Super League teams...
Gone are the hand-me-downs and adapted men’s kits – women have been calling the shots before this summer’s World Cup“When we work with the men, they say a tight fit made them feel like a superhero, but for women it’s different. They want to feel comfortable and covered and professional,” says Cassie Looker.Looker is the senior apparel product manager in global football at Nike and has spearheaded the design and production of the first bespoke women’s kits for the teams it is partnered with at this summer’s World Cup. It launched them with an unveiling in Paris involving leading female athletes from across the sporting world and top models. Related: Toni Duggan: ‘I’ve been bigging up the Spain game like...
Jen Beattie’s late winner against Liverpool means City stay one point behind Arsenal while Yeovil completed a doubleA 95th-minute winner from Jen Beattie against Liverpool keeps Manchester City’s title hopes alive, even if they are now hanging by a thread. They remain a point behind Arsenal with just two games to play – the last of them against the leaders – but crucially have played a game more than their rivals. So they need the Gunners to falter in one of their next two games – against 10th-placed Everton and ninth-placed Brighton – and then to beat them on the last day of the season. City dominated possession but a hard-working Liverpool team repeatedly thwarted their attacks. The Scotland international...
Hot on the heels of more than 60,000 attending a game in Spain, Barclays announced its £10m sponsorship of WSLWith record attendances, multimillion-pound sponsorship deals and global brand announcements, this has been a monumental week for women’s football and I’m excited to be involved in the next historic moment when Juventus face Fiorentina in the first Women’s Serie A match to be held at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday. Related: Wanda Metropolitano’s record crowd shows English football the way | Suzanne Wrack Twitter: follow us at @guardian_sport Related: Barclays deal shows women’s game now big-bucks business | Suzanne Wrack Continue reading...