Lauren Hemp & Gareth Taylor talk Champions League & new League season as big fixtures arrive

Manchester City season is ready to get started and their first commitment comes against French side Paris FC in the UEFA Champions League second-round qualifier.

Champions League football is returning this coming week, not only for the men's side as the new League phase gets underway but also for the women's squad who are preparing to start their journey which will hopefully secure their place in the group stage.

English international Lauren Hemp took part in the pre-match press conference alongside her club manager Gareth Taylor.

The player shared the team's mindset ahead of the upcoming crucial season-starting fixtures, while Taylor discussed the importance of the new season for the Cityzens.

Lauren Hemp

"We have big ambitions to win this season across all competitions and it all starts on Wednesday with the first Champions League game. We're fresh and ready to go to make a statement in the Champions League."

"It's so important that we get past this stage. We have an experienced squad that has been in World Cup finals and in Champions League games at the latter stages. We know what it takes to win."

"Paris FC are a great team, we've analysed them and we're fully prepared. They have knocked out big teams in the past and down well in the Champions League in previous years. (We are) not taking it lightly and we prepared. We're all up for it."

Gareth Taylor

(Reaching the Champions League group stage is a ) huge priority, we've always said the priority is trying to win the women's Super League, we've come in two of my seasons, and we've come down to the final game. Last season was supremely close and the rewards that come from winning women's super league is going straight into the group stages which is what everyone wants."

"Every team who have faced a Champions League qualifier over the past few years have never had it easy. Sometimes the route can be slightly different wheverhter you finish third or second, we've seen prviouslyu it's a tough competition to get into the group stages. We feel if we can get into it, we'll have a really good go in this competition."

"They will not make it easy, It's a tough opponent for us, but the signs in pre-season have been really good."

Man City Square prediction:

Paris FC 1-2 Manchester City

Paris FC vs Manchester City takes place on Wednesday, the 18th of September at 17:45 (UK).