Taylor is hungry for the WSL title win with Manchester City after thwarting Chelsea’s treble hopes

GARETH TAYLOR wants Manchester City to focus on winning the WSL title from their rivals after Chelsea ended the triple push this season.

And the Academy Stadium manager is backing Georgia Stanway to find success as the team’s menacing midfielder following her efforts for the club.

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City, who defeated the Blues in that year’s Conti Cup finals, only won the WSL crown once in 2016 under ex-boss Nick Cushing.

And they are currently two games ahead of leaders Arsenal, who hold the record for most top-flight titles in England with 15 wins, including three WSL crowns.

But with the Gunners 14 points clear of City, only an epic collapse on par for the club this season could rival Newcastle’s surrender in the 1995/96 Prem.

The Magpies, then managed by Kevin Keegan, saw a 12-point lead they held in January 1996 evaporate after a five-game eight-game loss streak.

And Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United would win the Premier League crown later that year.

Taylor, 48, said: “Trophies like the Conti Cup are fantastic. They are not easy to win. This competition is as difficult to win as the FA Cup.

“We won a WSL title and that’s not enough for me. I said that when I got the job.

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“Winning the title is the real test for the team.

“And it’s so hard in a 22-game season, especially when you have the number of injuries that we had earlier in the year.

“But that doesn’t change anything. The league is the title we really want.”

City’s first Conti Cup loss to Chelsea put Georgia Stanway back in central midfield.

The England starlet, 23, met Caroline Weir for an equalizer that paved the way for her win.

Ahead of the game, the Cumbria-born player spoke of preferring to play in one position despite playing at full-back when the team struggled with injuries earlier this season.

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And Taylor insists central midfield is where he sees Stanway most dangerous.

The City gaffer added: “We see the best of her in attacking midfield.

“We see her assisting, scoring goals and stopping the game.

“I think she has one of the highest recoveries in WSL. She’s really important to us.”