Pre-season friendlies reveal lessons for Earps and Miedema

Mary Earps, the former Manchester United goalkeeper, joined Paris Saint-Germain with the ambition of winning more trophies. Just months into her tenure, she celebrated a victory in the Perth International Football Cup, where PSG triumphed over Manchester City with a narrow 1-0 scoreline. Despite Earps' clean sheet in the semi-final against West Ham, her teammate Katarzyna Kiedrzynek's exceptional performance in the final raised questions about Earps' position as the starting goalkeeper. Manchester City, despite the loss, showcased their potential with a dominant midfield performance, particularly through Yui Hasegawa's passing. The match attracted a crowd of 15,091 spectators, who witnessed City's attacking style. Coach Taylor's decision to rotate goalkeepers, giving both Khiara Keating and new signing Ayaka Yamashita equal playing time, added to the competitive atmosphere as they prepare for the upcoming WSL season. Vivianne Miedema, the all-time record goalscorer in the WSL, was absent from the matchday squad, which disappointed some fans. However, club sources confirmed that her absence was due to a planned management of her minutes to build fitness during pre-season. Miedema had previously impressed as a substitute against Leicester, indicating her importance to the team. Leicester City also made strides under new manager Amandine Miquel, finishing their pre-season trip with a convincing 5-2 victory over West Ham. The team's improvements and promising performances from players like Momiki and Mace suggest a positive outlook for the upcoming season.