'It's unique' - Chelsea & Man City set for four games in 13 days

Women's League Cup final

Venue: Pride Park, Derby Date: Saturday, 15 March Kick-off: 12:15 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 11:45, with live radio commentary from 12:00 on BBC 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, and text commentary on BBC Sport website.

When Chelsea face Manchester City on Saturday in the Women's League Cup final, it will be the start of a 13-day battle with the sides playing each other four times in a row.

They will go head-to-head in three competitions. The season's first piece of silverware will be won at Derby's Pride Park (12:15 GMT kick-off), before a two-legged quarter-final showdown in the Women's Champions League, with a league meeting sandwiched in between.

Chelsea are chasing a quadruple of trophies this season, while City, who could themselves win a trio of titles, must navigate this defining period just days after sacking manager Gareth Taylor.

There is plenty at stake.

Chelsea are used to playing against City for silverware having faced them in both domestic cup finals in 2022.

They have been rivals in the Women's Super League too with Chelsea pipping City to the title last season on goal difference.

But when the clubs were drawn against each other in the Champions League, even the players couldn't believe how the fixtures had panned out.

"We were all like 'that's crazy!'" Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones told BBC Radio London.

Defender Niamh Charles added: "It's so unique. It will be interesting for the fans.

"As a player, we're used to changing opposition all the time. But it is what it is. Each game is a separate thing and you attack each one."

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor at least understands what it feels like to play a rival regularly in a short space of time.

While she has never encountered a four-game successive run, her former Lyon side frequently came up against Paris St-Germain in multiple competitions.

Last year, the French sides met three times in a month - and the same happened the season before.

"There was a lot of similarity but we had more space between the games. Against Manchester City it will be four games in 13 days and in three different competitions," Bompastor told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It is a rare thing in football but we are really excited and looking forward to it. Every game will be different. It will be 50-50 from the beginning to the end.

"Sometimes when you play [teams again] three days after, everything is fresh so it's sometimes harder. But it is for both teams, so it is the same for them."

As well as facing the best team in England four times in a row, City must find stability following Taylor's sudden sacking.

Interim manager Nick Cushing - the former City head coach who led them to their first WSL title nine years ago - met the players on Tuesday and immediately began preparing for Saturday's final in Derby.

Cushing is faced with a daunting task but could an element of surprise work in their favour?

"The way Nick [Cushing] was telling us how to play was really exciting. [Chelsea] won't know what we are going to do," said City forward Kerolin.

"Maybe they expect us to play in the same way we were playing... I guess each game we will try to do something different. This will come more from the coach.

"We know it is hard. We are playing against Chelsea four times in decisive games. We have the final in our head and we want to make history.

"We want to take Chelsea [off the top]. They are at the top, so why not go for them">