Manchester City suffer two injuries to key players in opening-day defeat to Chelsea | OneFootball

Alex Greenwood in action for City last season (Sean Chandler / SPP)

Manchester City’s season got off to a bad start on Friday evening – not just in terms of the result in their first match, a 2-1 defeat to defending Women’s Super League champions Chelsea.

They also lost two players late on to what looked like significant injuries.

Captain Alex Greenwood sustained a leg injury, and immediately removed her skipper’s armband as she knew she would be unable to continue.

However, she did manage to walk off the pitch herself, although aided by the medical team.

Then in added time, teenager Lily Murphy fell to the ground while in what seemed a relatively innocuous challenge with Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Although referee Emily Heaslip did not immediately stop play, Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton ran to the stricken youngster and called for medical help.

Television cameras clearly picked up a distressed Murphy mouthing, “Oh, my God!” and holding her arm.

And onlookers suggested that she then told the club staff, “I think I’ve broken my arm,” as she was stretchered off.

Jeglertz: We weren’t able to talk yet

City head coach Andree Jeglertz had not been able to get any concrete updates on the injuries to either player at the time of his post-match press conference.

He was asked if he had any more information, and replied, “Unfortunately not. I just saw Lily leaving the stadium and haven’t talked much with Alex yet.

“She [Lily] was in pain, but I don’t know what the issue was. We weren’t able to talk yet afterwards.”

In what is surely a positive sign, Murphy was on social media on Saturday morning, sharing some matchday posts.

She had only just signed a contract extension to keep her at the club until 2027, having signed her first professional deal last year.

She said at the time: “It’s an amazing feeling. This is what I’ve worked towards, getting this extension, and I’m so looking forward to this season.”

She made her senior debut in 2024-25, appearing 22 times for the first team.

Greenwood missed a chunk of last season due to an injury to her medial collateral ligament she picked up in a UEFA Women’s Champions League match against SKN St Polten, and which required surgery.

City lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the WSL curtain-raiser, with the Blues going two up courtesy of Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano, before a Niamh Charles own goal gave the visitors some late hope.

Their next match is at home against Brighton and Hove Albion next weekend.