Lucy Bronze says the double is just the start for Man City Women
Monday 3 October 2016 20:01, UK
Lucy Bronze is determined to continue Manchester City Women's success next year after they secured a league and cup double.
City lost just one game all season, in the Women's FA Cup, and claimed the FA Women's Super League title for the first time in their history last month after a 2-0 win over defending champions Chelsea.
The Blues extended their winning streak on Sunday with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Birmingham City in the final of the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup to secure a second piece of silverware for the club in seven days.
"Yeah it has been a brilliant season," said England international Bronze, who featured in the 2015 World Cup. "To win the double at any club is a good season, but to win my first two trophies with my current club and the club I want to stay at for a long time it's been brilliant.
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"The way we work and what we have been working towards hopefully it's just the start of something and it's something we can carry on into next year and years to go."
Despite claiming two trophies, there is little time for City to celebrate as they prepare play their first Champions League game on Thursday October 6 against 2009 finalists Zvezda Perm at the Academy Stadium, and Blues goalkeeper Marie Hourihan is targeting more silverware.
"The journey starts on Thursday," Hourihan stated. "Although its new territory for the football club, we all know that ultimately you are in these competitions to win.
"European competitions are what the club want to be winning both men and women.
"It starts with the Russian opposition, which will be a tough opposition and a little bit unknown so we will treat that with the respect it deserves.
"We know if we put the performance in then we should get the result"
Although it has been an unprecedented week for the City team it has been even more dramatic for their coach Nick Cushing, who managed to get to the birth of his daughter with just six minutes to spare after rushing off once the Continental Tyres Cup final's full-time whistle was blown.
"Luckily he made it back for the birth of his third child," Bronze added. "So it was a good day for him yesterday.
"I know he was happy about coming to the game and he rushed back off and she had the baby and the bay is healthy and fine. I don't see many complaints from him."
