Manchester City know “what they need to do to go to the next step” in order to win the Women’s Super League title, says manager Gareth Taylor.
They lost out to Chelsea on goal difference last season and have finished runners-up seven times since 2015.
Since City won their first and only WSL title in 2016, Chelsea have been champions in seven of the last eight seasons.
“Sometimes you work tremendously hard like we did last season and things don’t quite go your way,” said Taylor.
“That’s not to say that we’re not incredibly proud of what we did. The one thing we can take, is we know exactly what we have to do now to win the title.
“We have to use that as fuel, whether it be in the Champions League, or in the WSL, to really use all of those experiences, use all of that knowledge and really push on.”
Taylor admitted the disappointment of missing out on the title by goal difference will “never leave you”, but City remain proud of their effort.
An agonising 2-1 home loss to Arsenal in their penultimate game, coupled with Chelsea’s 8-0 win over Bristol City, proved decisive in the outcome.
“It was probably that we felt at one point we had the title,” added Taylor. “We never would have neglected those last few games. We knew exactly what we were facing.
“We knew exactly how tough the challenge [was] against Arsenal, but we were tremendously close. There was a lot to be proud of last season. We’re completely aware of what we need to do to go to that next step.”
‘There’s only one team who can win’
Taylor said it was not a “failure” that City did not lift the title in a gripping finale, but it remained their aim this season.
“People can look at trophies as being the be-all and end-all,” he explained. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m here to win. Of course we want to be there.
“But the fact we are going deep in pretty much in all competitions is what we’re about and of course there can only be one team that wins.
“People tend to forget that there’s four or five teams that are really close to winning at the beginning of the season and there’s only one team that can ever win. That doesn’t make the other four [teams] a failure.
“It’s really tough but the objective is absolutely to win, I’m not going to hide away from that.”
Chelsea wrapped up their fifth successive title under former manager Emma Hayes in May.
Her squad were often described as mentally strong but Taylor rejected any suggestion City are unable to cope with the pressure.
“I’d never say that because we have a team of winners,” he added. “We have players who have won. Obviously the WSL title is what we want.
“I’ve never hidden away that it’s the title that I really want to bring to the club. You’ve seen how fine the margins are and I don’t see that changing this season.
“People just quickly assimilate that because you win time after time, like Chelsea have done, that they have good mental toughness.
“So for the ones who don’t, is it that they’re lacking? Until you win, can you be classed in that bracket? It’s really subjective to look at it from that way.”