Etihad Women’s Player of the Month: March shortlist confirmed | OneFootball

The three nominees up for March’s Etihad Women’s Player of the Month prize have been revealed.

City were in action eight times across four separate competitions, including a four-game sequence against Chelsea in just 12 days.

Our battle with the Londoners included a League Cup final, a UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final and a Barclays Women’s Super League meeting at the Etihad Stadium.

Elsewhere, we qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Cup, where we’ll face Manchester United at the Joie Stadium in our first match back from the international break.

It was a demanding March for Nick Cushing’s side, but City fans can now decide which player deserves to claim the latest Player of the Month prize.

Gracie Prior

With Rebecca Knaak picking up an injury on international duty, 20-year-old Prior was called up to feature alongside Laia Aleixandri in the heart of the City defence.

She featured in seven of our eight matches across the month, doubling her career total appearances for City in the process.

It was a baptism of fire for the youngster, but a challenge she’s met in impressive fashion, especially considering some of the world class talent she was facing.

Prior grew in confidence every game and more than justified the faith placed in her at such an important part of the season.

Vivianne Miedema

January’s Player of the Month winner is shortlisted again for March’s award after another sequence of stellar displays.

The Dutch international grabbed City’s first of the month in our 2-1 WSL victory over Tottenham Hotspur when she powered home Aoba Fujino’s cross from the right, with the Japan winger going on to grab a late winner in London.

An assist would follow seven days later against Aston Villa when the forward won back possession deep in the visitors’ half before squaring to Jess Park for a simple finish.

But Miedema’s real standout display came in our Champions League first leg tie against Chelsea, when she came off the bench to grab a second half brace, dealing the Londoners their first defeat of the season.

Kerolin Nicoli

The Brazil international has flourished under Cushing’s guidance, with her pace and trickery out wide providing a constant threat for City.

While Miedema deservedly grabbed the headlines for her brace against Chelsea in our 2-0 Champions League win, Kerolin Nicoli was a constant threat out on the right flank.

Setting up the second goal of the night, Chelsea simply didn’t have an answer for her dynamic style on the night, with the Brazilian’s defensive work also essential in helping City see out the win.

The 25-year-old stood out again at the Etihad Stadium just four days later, grabbing the opening goal for the Blues after finding the bottom corner with a cleverly disguised finish.

She’s only been at City for two months, but Kerolin Nicoli is already showing why she came to England with such an impressive reputation.