Manchester City midfielder Jill Roord relishing underdog tag in WSL title race - 'I'm fine with that'

Manchester City's Jill Roord is relishing the underdog tag in the Women’s Super League, with the title race left on a knife-edge heading into the winter break.

Only three points separate Chelsea, City and Arsenal at the top of the table, as Roord’s team kept pace with the table-topping Blues after a 4-1 win over Everton on Sunday.

"I don't really look at what other people are saying. If they see us as the underdog, I'm fine with that," Roord told BBC Sport.

"We can just focus on ourselves. [Victory over Everton means] we are in a really good position and everything is possible for the second half of the season.

"As players you want to win titles or cups, especially in this club. It's not that easy in England as there are many good teams but I think we have the qualities to make that happen."

The Netherlands international has been pleased with the way the season has gone so far, and highlighted how the league is becoming more competitive.

Gareth Taylor’s side were on the receiving end of one of the most surprising results this season, as former striker Lee Geum-min consigned City to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Brighton last month.

"I'm very happy here and I've enjoyed being at Manchester City with the way we play, the league and the teams we play. It's gone OK so far," Roord explained.

"Obviously there are always things to improve on. I think I've settled quite well and it didn't take me super long to play my own game.”

While the focus is undoubtedly on the top-three as the leading title contenders, Manchester United and Liverpool remain within striking distance of Arsenal and City in particular – something which Roord alluded to.

"Women's football in general has developed so much [since I was last in the WSL]," she said. "It's not just Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City fighting for the title, and almost every week you have tough games. It wasn't always like that."

United have faltered by their own high standards this season and have their long-term adversaries Liverpool breathing down their necks after a superb 2-1 win at Leigh Sports Village to end 2023 on a high.

It was Liverpool’s first WSL win over United and Matt Beard’s side have an outside chance of gate crashing the top three.

Meanwhile, the battle at the bottom is just as intriguing with only four points separating table-propping Bristol City and Aston Villa in ninth, setting everything up nicely heading into 2024.

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