28 wins from 31 matches across all competitions, and any uncertainty surrounding the acquisition of the Chelsea boss baton by Sonia Bompastor has all but dissipated into the ether.
Bompastor’s Blues have continued to demonstrate their “monster mentality” developed under Emma Hayes during her 12-year tenure.
It was longstanding Chelsea Captain, Millie Bright who gave voice to this powerful image, following their title-clinching 6-0 thrashing over Manchester United on the last day of the 23/24 season.
The unrelenting nature of which Chelsea competed in the run-in, and in many season throughout Hayes’ tenure, proved to be impossible for other sides to rival.
Despite the transition from Hayes to Bompastor, the Blues’ mercilessness has remained unwavering, with the West Londoners sitting astride the WSL table with an eight-point lead and just five matches remaining.
In fact, an unprecedented quadruple is appearing ever more possible as the season enters its final two months. Having already secured silverware in the League Cup, semi-finals in the FA Cup and Champions League await the Blues in April.
The question this highly impressive feat begs, therefore, is how has the transition been so seamless?
Formidable Foundations
Although Hayes departed Chelsea, the majority of her players remained to continue their pursuit of silverware to obtain and records to break.
Bright has stayed at the club since her arrival in 2014, offering stability and leadership to her teammates no matter the circumstances.
WSL Full-Time journalist, Bethany Barker commented: “Millie Bright as Captain kept that consistency, she reflected Hayes’ principles to the players after she left.”
The most notable players such as Fran Kirby, Melanie Leupolz and Jess Carter departing the club, the absence of them has not heavily been felt due to squad depth.
Under Bompastor, the likes of midfielders Sjoeke Nüsken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, and Lucy Bronze at right-back have been at the heart of Chelsea’s formidability on the field.
Bronze was one of four golden additions to the side in the summer before Bompastor’s dugout debut. Sandy Baltimore, Oriane Jean-Francois and Maelys Mpome have all impressed when featuring from Bompastor’s squad rotation.
Chelsea’s winter transfer window also exceeded expectations, with the signing of illustrious midfielder Keira Walsh proving to further bolster an already star-studded squad. In just her first few games, the playmaker has provided insightful through balls and intricate footwork.
Chelsea also secured the most expensive signing in women’s football history with a fee of £900,000 for American centre-back Naomi Girma.
Although Girma only managed to make her debut before suffering a calf injury, the future certainly looks a promising one with players of Girma’s calibre committing to the club.
Wide and Direct
While the players that remained offered Bompastor a winning formula, the tactics have been the most noticeable difference between Hayes’ and Bompastor’s Chelsea.
The latter chose not to employ her 4-2-3-1 formation of which she applied to great affect at Lyon, instead playing a 4-3-3 just as Hayes did.
The replacement of a central midfielder for an attacking one demonstrates Bompastor’s early choice to favour a more attacking mindset.
This is where the change is evident: on the attack. In recent seasons, Hayes allowed for organised chaos- however paradoxical that may seem. Her players were given the license to vacate spaces that they felt they could make an impact from, more so than occupying a specific footballing position.
This is very much the antithesis of Bompastor’s rigid structure, in which each player has a position and the side produce their build-up play out wide.
When the wingers receive the ball they are advised to be direct, crafting moments of individual brilliance rather than a well-worked team goal of which was a typical trope of ‘Hayes ball’.
Winger and midfielder Kaneryd has benefited in abundance from Bompastor’s blueprint, as the 28-year-old loves to take players on. Kaneryd has four goals and six assists across all competitions this season, with the player producing the most assists for Chelsea in the WSL.
It certainly appears Bompastor’s more rigid structure and emphasis on creativity from her wingers has helped those such as Kaneryd and Lauren James to flourish.
“Lauren James has shown her versatility under Bompastor, developing defensive aspects of her game as well as impressing offensively,” said Barker.
European Glory to Cease as an Untold Story?
On Thursday evening, Bompastor led her side to a historic comeback against Manchester City, turning the tide on the 2-0 deficit Chelsea held prior to the match.
A 3-0 victory secured the side a spot in the Champions League semi-finals, with their familiar foe, Barcelona, their upcoming opponent.
The Blues are yet to secure European glory, exiting the Champions League twice in the semi-finals while also suffering a 4-0 defeat in the final, all to Barcelona.
The spotlight has very much been on Bompastor throughout her side’s Champions League campaign, with the manager basking in its glare with a calm and collected demeanour thus far.
If the Blues do indeed again fall short in their challenge of defeating Barcelona, the immense pain felt by the players and external criticism would surely tarnish Bompastor’s otherwise flawless first season at Chelsea.
“Facing Barcelona is always tough, but it could show how much has changed since Hayes’ departure. Being at home for the second leg should help Chelsea,” Barker expressed.
Therefore, much is at stake for the Blues in the remaining months of the season.
Will Bompastor immortalise herself as Chelsea’s greatest ever manager by securing the Champions League- or even better, the seemingly impossible quadruple?
Only time will tell… Or rather a few more ruthless performances from her players.
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