'It's going to be very competitive' - Karen Carney predicts tightly fought Adobe Women's FA Cup final between Manchester City and Brighton
Updated 31/05/2026 at 11:39 GMT+1
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Karen Carney believes the Adobe Women’s FA Cup final is going to be ”very competitive” despite the disparity between Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League this season.
Man City needed 'proven winner' Jeglertz to win titles
Video credit: TNT Sports
In his debut campaign, Andree Jeglertz has guided City to their first league title in 10 years, with the champions eventually finishing 29 points and six places above Brighton.
However, The Seagulls won the most recent meeting between the sides in April, and Carney believes Sunday's final, which is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, will be a tightly-fought contest, particularly given Brighton’s progress off the field.
"We want an interesting final, I think we're definitely going to get it,” the former Arsenal, Birmingham City and Chelsea midfielder said.
”This [Brighton] is a team that's been building. They've had a £10 million training ground, they've just announced a £75 million stadium, bespoke for the women's team.
”This is a team that, when you go on the training ground, they’ve got, ‘We will be in the Champions League’. So they're building and building.
”So this is the first time - in both men's and women's - they are going to be in a major final.
”When they beat Arsenal, Tony Bloom, the owner, was there supporting them on Easter Sunday. They're taking it very seriously. It's going to be a very competitive game.”
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Highlights: Brighton stage FA Cup upset to knock out Arsenal and reach semi-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
City finished the campaign four points clear of second-placed Arsenal as they ended their decade-long wait for their second title.
Steph Houghton believes that Jeglertz giving his key players the licence to ”play with freedom” has been a ”big factor” in their success this season.
The former City captain, who spent a decade at the club, has been impressed by the head coach’s ability to take an already strong squad to the next level.
”I think we have been building a great team over a number of years but winning teams, you have to have everything,” she told TNT Sports.
- 'All about the long-term' - Why Brighton are built to last
- How ‘proven winner’ Jeglertz has given Man City ‘cutting edge’
”You have to have a little bit of luck, you have to keep your key players fit, but also you have to be able to build a squad that's ready to go play with that freedom.
”I think in terms of what Andree's brought to the team this season is, you've got the likes of Lauren Hemp, Bunny Shaw, with the ability to play free and to be able to do the things that they do on the pitch.
”I do think that's been a big, big factor to City this season.”
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Highlights: Shaw breaks Chelsea hearts as Man City make FA Cup final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw topped the WSL scoring charts for the third time in four seasons, with her 21 goals crucial in City finishing four points clear of Arsenal in second.
The striker, who it was confirmed signed a new four-year deal with the champions on Monday, also salvaged City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
After Mary Fowler halved their 2-0 deficit in the 86th minute at Stamford Bridge, Shaw scored a 91st-minute equaliser before heading home the winner in extra-time.
City will be looking to their prolific striker to make the difference once again on Sunday as they target their first FA Cup triumph since 2020.
How to watch the Adobe Women's FA Cup final
You can watch the Adobe Women's FA Cup final on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, and HBO Max, with live coverage featuring a team of TNT Sports experts from 14:00 UK time, ahead of a 15:00 kick-off.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through HBO Max, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
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