Manchester City are one of the favourites in the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League after winning the Women’s Super League back in May. Netherlands and Man City star Kerstin Casparij spoke about the club’s upcoming UWCL opposition, their form and their chances in the competition.

Casparij has been at City since joining from FC Twente in July 2022 as a replacement for iconic English defender Lucy Bronze. The Dutch international has since gone on to win the Women’s Super League and the FA Cup with City, with the UWCL remaining elusive.

Despite being labelled as one of the favourites in the UWCL, City haven’t been given any ‘easy’ fixtures in the league phase.

The WSL champions drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich in their opening fixture and have Real Madrid, PSG, Austria Wien, Inter Milan and BK Häcken to come.

“Real Madrid are an incredible team. They’re a team that we’ve watched, we’ve studied their clips.” Casparij said ahead of their clash with the Liga F side. “To play against Linda Caicedo… she’s an incredible player. I’ve been watching her closely, but across their front line they’re all incredible. I’m excited to play against them, it’ll be a good match.”

Playing at the highest possible level is no new challenge for a player like Casparij. The defender has amassed more than 50 appearances for the Netherlands and has won both senior leagues she has played in — the WSL and the Eredivisie.

“I love playing as many games as possible in a season,” Casparij said. “I think having European nights ‘under the lights’, as they say, with the fans in Manchester is so special. It’s such a unique atmosphere when it’s European football and something that I love and I draw a lot of energy from.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 31: Kerstin Casparij and Alex Greenwood of Manchester City celebrate with the Women’s FA Cup Trophy as the team poses for a photo following victory in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on May 31, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)