Hunted have become the hunted: Inside’s Chelsea quest to reclaim their Women’s Super League crown
When it comes to implementing these off-pitch changes, a pre-season tour can go a long way. Chelsea’s took them to Australia and New Zealand this summer, where Bompastor believes the players had the opportunity “to spend time together to understand each other” on and off the pitch. “I think when you build those relationships and those connections off the pitch, you always get better things on the pitch as well.”
There, the hope will be that Matsukubo, Dragoni and Malard can bolster what was a stuttering attack, as can McCabe’s wonderful crosses from open play and set-pieces. Healthier seasons for James, Ramirez, Aggie Beever-Jones, and more, would also help. Bompastor wants to concede fewer goals as well, and not having the injuries at centre-back that Chelsea did last season will, again, go a long way towards that.
Off the pitch, it’s clear that Bompastor wants this group to be in the right place to be a winning machine again. There have been some big personnel changes this summer and adjustment will be needed. However, there are still so many experienced characters in this squad, whom she will hope can lead the way in creating the necessary environment.
The early signs, in that regard, are good. Bompastor speaks to GOAL after delivering a pre-season training session to her team that she revealed beforehand was going to be “really challenging”. But their reaction to that sort of thing has been encouraging. “They are really enjoying working hard together,” she notes.
