Manchester City have sacked coach Gareth Taylor just five days before they face Chelsea in the Women's League Cup final, with Nick Cushing taking over on an interim basis.

City have experienced a downturn since missing out on the Women's Super League title on goal difference last season, sitting fourth in the table with six games remaining.

City are 12 points adrift of runaway leaders Chelsea, while Manchester United and Arsenal are also above them and both hold a game in hand.

Taylor oversaw a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, but that was his final game at the helm after City opted to make a change.

"Manchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition," managing director Charlotte O'Neill said. 

"Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard.

"With six games of the WSL campaign remaining, we believe that a change of management will breathe fresh life into our bid to ensure qualification for the 2025-26 Women's Champions League.

"We would like to place on record our thanks to Gareth for all of his efforts during his many years at City.

"Our FA Cup and League Cup triumphs will remain special moments in the history of this football club. We wish him all the best for the future."

Taylor led City to glory in the FA Cup in 2020 and the League Cup two years later, also overseeing two runners-up finishes in the WSL in 2020-21 and 2023-24.

Manchester City Women have parted ways with Head Coach Gareth Taylor.

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 10, 2025

City have turned back to their former coach Cushing, who led the team between 2013 and 2020 and delivered the club's only WSL crown in 2016, also winning the FA Cup in 2017 and two League Cups in 2014 and 2016.

He will attempt to win the latter trophy for the third time on Saturday, when City face Sonia Bompastor's Chelsea at Pride Park.

That will be the first of four games against the Blues before the end of this month, with one match in the WSL and two more coming in the Champions League quarter-finals.