Neville wants England players to dominate European club competition

Phil Neville wants England’s Lionesses to dominate Europe under his reign – and he would love Chelsea Ladies and Manchester City Women to point the way to glory.

The powerhouse sides from the Women’s Super League are through to the Champions League semi-finals and face two of the continent’s established leading lights later this month.

Manager Neville’s immediate priority is to ensure his England Women team rediscover their scoring touch and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica on Tuesday.

Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Wales in Southampton ended in a frustrating goalless draw so nothing less than three points this week will do for Neville.

But beyond that the former Manchester United defender wants England’s leading domestic sides to prove their growing strength on the biggest stage in the women’s club game.

So when Chelsea Ladies play German side Wolfsburg and Manchester City Women tackle France’s reigning European champions Lyon over two legs on April 22 and 29, Neville will be willing the WSL teams to make it an all-English final.

“Maybe two years ago with City playing Lyon, Wolfsburg playing Chelsea, you’d have probably said, ‘You know what, they’re both going to go out’,” Neville said.

“Do you know what? It wouldn’t surprise me if we have an all-England final.

“And that’s what we need because the WSL is getting better and better and the best players are now coming to the WSL. They are big games those semi-finals and hopefully our girls can do themselves proud.”

A host of players from within his England camp will line up for City and Chelsea in the semi-finals, and Neville will take a keen interest.

He was in Spain last month to see Lyon edge out Barcelona in their quarter-final, bolstering his rapidly-developing knowledge of the women’s game and watching England stars Toni Duggan and Lucy Bronze in action. Both left Manchester City last summer, striker Duggan moving to Barcelona and right-back Bronze joining Lyon.

That game took place at the Miniestadi, in the shadow of the Nou Camp, and with a host of the Barcelona men’s team present along with head coach Ernesto Valverde.

“I was sat with the Barcelona women’s president, we had the Lyon president there as well. And you know what? Their best two players are Lucy Bronze and Toni Duggan,” Neville said.

“Valverde’s there, half the Barcelona (men’s) team are there, and my two players are the best players.

“You say Lyon are like the Harlem Globetrotters of women’s football. And my girl’s one of the best.”

Neville said Beth Mead, who made her England debut off the bench against Wales, “has a big future” at international level if she continues to impress him.

Arsenal striker Mead could land a second cap on Tuesday. Forward Fran Kirby and left-back Demi Stokes have missed the trip due to injury and illness respectively.