Manchester City and England Captain Steph Houghton expressed her delight after her sides 1-0 win against Arsenal ensured City’s passage two a second Continental Cup Final in three years.

“We had one objective and that was to get through to the final. I think we’ve had a really tough week as a team, I don’t think it’s ideal preparation coming into this game but to come that and come against the quality of Arsenal, to withstand so much pressure at points in the game I think we’ve got to be proud of ourselves and obviously we’re very delighted to be in the final of the Continental Cup.”

Asked on her thoughts on the final being held at the Academy Stadium in Manchester, Houghton didn’t hold back; “By all accounts every club had the opportunity to host the final and of course with a stadium like this, and facilities like this I don’t see why we can’t host a final. The FA has chosen to play here so I think for us it’s going to be a little bit of an advantage but the options were there for the other teams to host the final. From that point of view I think the most important thing is that we’re in the final and we’re competing for a trophy.”

Having been made to play their quarter final tie on 48 hours notice last season Houghton ruled out whether there was any additional motivation for the City squad;

“Winning [the Continental Cup] that first season it was a very special season, this is when Manchester City Women was actually formed and we performed really well that year so to win the trophy it’s quite special to us. Whether it’s the Conti Cup, the FA Cup or the league we want to win as many as we can.”

Manchester City will face Birmingham City in the final of the Continental Tyres Cup at the Academy Stadium on Sunday 2nd October, 2pm KO.