Manchester City defender Alanna Kennedy believes the club’s previous heartbreak in the UEFA Women’s Champions League spurred them on to qualify for the group stage this term.

The Manchester club reached back to back semi-finals in 2016/17 and 2017/18, but their recent runs in the competition have been short-lived, or non-existent altogether. This season, however, they reached the group stage for the first time in four years.

For Kennedy, this will be her first taste of group stage action in the Champions League after joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2021, and peviously spending the early years of her career between the United States and her native Australia. “It was disappointing to be out [of the competition] early in my first two seasons, then not even in it last year,” the Australia international said.

“For us, it made us more determined to ensure we were there this time around. I’m looking forward to more Champions League football.””

In 2022/23, Gareth Taylor’s side were knocked out of the competition in the first round of qualifying following a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid. This time around, a stern test against French side Paris FC in the second qualifying round was all that stood in their way.

It was a match up the City boss didn’t take lightly given Arsenal were knocked out by the same opponent in the first round last term. It is for that reason City’s 8-0 aggregate win over two legs cannot be overstated as they became one of three English clubs to reach the group stage.

Things don’t get any easier for City, though, as their first group stage test comes in the form of a home tie against reigning European giants Barcelona next week. Austrian side St. Polten and Sweden’s Hammarby IF make up the Manchester club’s remaining opponents as they look to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2020/21.

“Regardless of whether we got Barcelona early on, the draw is what it is,” Kennedy continued. “I’m looking forward to the challenge as I don’t think we’ve played them.

“I personally haven’t played them, but as a club, [we haven’t] for a few years now. It will be a good challenge and a good way to kick it off. For us, it’s about showing up consistently. On the back of a good season last year, we wanted to get off to a good start. 

“We’re focusing on ourselves and we’re making sure our standards are always high. Consistency is key for us this season.”

City missed out on silverware by the tightest of margins last season. Despite matching Chelsea’s points tally of 55 in the final WSL standings, an inferior goal difference meant they ultimately ended a strong campaign empty handed.

Now, they are competing on four fronts with the WSL, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup all on the cards in 2024/25. Kennedy believes this is exactly where the club should be.

“When you come to a top club, you want to be playing in all these competitions and fighting for trophies,” the defender concluded. “For us, we want to win all the competitions we’re in this year, and get our hands on some silverware.

“To be a part of all four competitions [is fantastic], and we’re off to a good start so far with the Champions League. The past experiences of just falling short have allowed us to grow and learn.

“Hopefully, this is our season.”

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