'Know what it takes' - Man City star makes Champions League vow ahead of Paris clash

Manchester City forward Lauren Hemp insists the club "know what it takes to win" ahead of their first Women's Champions League qualifier on Wednesday.

The Blues will play Paris FC across two legs, with the winner set to progress to the group stage. They earned their right to qualify for the competition after finishing second in the Women's Super League (WSL) last term, having last played in Europe in 2022.

"I obviously signed for City because I wanted to win trophies. I believe this is a club that can go on to do that," Hemp said ahead of Wednesday's match at Stade Sébastien-Charléty. "We have big ambitions to win this season across all of the competitions. We have learned from previous years the difference we need to make.

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"We have got so many experienced girls in the squad that have been in World Cup finals and Champions League games at later stages, so we know what it takes to win. We’re all feeling fresh and ready to go and to make a statement in the Champions League."

City have never won the Champions League; however, they have twice reached the semi-finals, last doing so in 2018. Having recruited shrewdly in the summer, with Arsenal legend Vivianne Miedema the club's marquee signing, manager Gareth Taylor believes the Blues' squad depth will help his side this season.

"We understand the challenges in front of us and it will be tough but it is not just in the Champions League, but in general (squad depth) will help us a lot," said Taylor.

"We have been open and honest about last season and how well we did as a team. Towards the end of the