By The New season starts Today, Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea take on Man City at Stamford Bridge Today September 5, kick-off 7.30pm, An unbeaten domestic season and a treble was quite the first year in English football for Sonia Bompastor, but one the eve of the new campaign, she’s not ready for Chelsea’s domestic dominance to end just yet.
Bompastor stepped into Emma Hayes‘ shoes at Chelsea effortlessly last season, delivering a sixth successive Women’s Super League title to west London. The Blues added FA Cup and League Cup glory to the title and they also became the first team in the WSL’s 22-game era to go a whole campaign without defeat.
I had, and we had as a club, an incredible summer, Bompastor told Sky Sports. It was a really good time to reflect, and it was extremely important for us to do that as a club.
“In terms of results, we were really happy with that first season. It’s important for us to realise that it wasn’t an easy one because the club was in a transitional moment, and being able to win a treble, winning all the domestic trophies, was a great achievement.
“But now we are back to a new season. Everything is new again and we need to compete against good teams in the most competitive league, and we are ready for that.”
Bompastor believes she is in a better position heading into her second season in charge at stamford bridge
This time last year, there was a perception that Chelsea’s dominance could be under threat, Bompastor was new in the job after replacing the iconic Hayes, who had overseen five successive WSL titles, but the former Lyon boss hit the ground running as they went on to add a sixth, and in a warning to Chelsea’s rivals this year, she feels she’s in a much better position to implement her style further this season.
I’m in a much better place from last season, she said, I remember the media day from last year and I didn’t know anyone. I was new for everyone, and everyone was new for me and for that reason, I feel more comfortable now and I know more about the club, the league and the competition. In that aspect, I am in a better place.
“In terms of the team, last season was about making sure the players understood our game model, our gameplans on game day, and now I feel like we can go further in terms of details on the way we want to play.
“We want to perform, but we also want to keep the same mentality,” she added.
Chelsea Women celebrate winning the WSL title at Stamford Bridge
The mentality is really special in this club. We have this winning mentality and that is what made the difference last season between us and the other clubs. I want to make sure we carry on from that and that we are in a better place.
“It won’t be easy, and I know that. When you come in as a new manager into your first season in a new league, everything is new. People are probably not expecting you to do too well and perform in the job as I did, and as we did in the team and the club, but now it is not a surprise anymore.
“Everyone wants to fight and compete against Chelsea, and we need to ready mentally and physically, and tactically and technically to compete.”
