From Lyon to London: Sonia Bompastor's Chelsea Impact and Why Her Start Has Bom-past Expectations
How Sonia Bompastor’s winning pedigree and seamless transition are driving Chelsea toward new heights.
Introduction:
When the announcement came that Emma Hayes would leave Chelsea at the end of last season, it was hard for fans to imagine life under a different manager. Hayes had won almost every trophy available, delivered consistent victories, and transformed Chelsea into a side that dominated week after week. However, Chelsea had their sights firmly set on a specific candidate—someone many believed was destined to succeed: Sonia Bompastor.
The former French midfielder brought an impressive résumé to London. After overseeing Lyon's academy from 2013 to 2021, Bompastor took charge as head coach, leading the club to seven trophies in just three years. Her crowning achievement came in the 2021-22 UEFA Women’s Champions League when her side triumphed 3-1 over a formidable Barcelona team in the final.
Questions lingered about how quickly Bompastor would adapt to the Women’s Super League. The answer? Almost instantly. She has hit the ground running, and Chelsea remain unbeaten in the league under her leadership. While their recent draw against Leicester was a rare off-day, there’s already so much to admire about the football Chelsea are playing under Bompastor.
Yet, if Chelsea fans are honest, there’s one trophy they crave above all others: the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Despite all of Hayes’ remarkable achievements, the European crown was the one title that eluded her. Could Bompastor be the one to finally break that barrier? Will this be the season Chelsea reign supreme in Europe?
Chelsea under Bompastor in the WSL:
Just ten games into the season under Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea sit proudly at the top of the WSL table, having won nine and drawn one—though the recent draw with Leicester was a disappointment. With 6 points separating them from second-place Manchester City and 7 ahead of third-place Arsenal, Chelsea have scored 31 goals and conceded just 6, boasting an impressive goal difference of +25, 12 better than City. Notable victories include a resounding 7-0 win over newly promoted Palace, a 2-1 triumph against Arsenal, and a 2-0 win over title contenders Manchester City, along with victories over Spurs, Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Brighton. The only anomaly has been Leicester, who are the only team to deny Chelsea a win so far this season.
In these ten games, five players have started every match: Millie Bright, Hannah Hampton, Sjoeke Nüsken, Guro Reiten, and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. Key contributors also include Lucy Bronze, Erin Cuthbert, Mayra Ramirez, and even Sandy Baltimore, who has stepped in at left-back during injury crises. Young talents like Aggie Beever-Jones and Wieke Kaptein have also been crucial to Bompastor's system. Top scorer Guro Reiten has made an outstanding start to the season with six goals, while Kaneryd and Beever-Jones have each found the net four times. Chelsea have not been without their injury woes, with young star Lauren James playing just three matches and world-class striker Sam Kerr still sidelined with an ACL injury.
Key Stats:
Reiten's high xG (4.2) reflects her attacking threat and ability to get into quality scoring positions, making her a key offensive player.
Beever-Jones and Kaneryd’s xG (3.1 and 2.8, respectively) show they are also strong scoring options, supporting Chelsea’s attacking depth.
Hampton’s goalkeeping performance (6 goals conceded, 80% save rate) underlines her reliability and consistency as a shot-stopper, with a strong record of saving 24 out of 30 shots faced.
Kaneryd’s 11 shots on target, along with Ramirez and Beever-Jones (10 each), emphasise Kaneryd’s efficiency in attack while highlighting Chelsea’s wide range of offensive contributors.
Bright’s passing dominance (646 completed passes) indicates her critical role in ball distribution and build-up play, while Bronze and Hampton's high pass numbers show their involvement in possession and transition play.
Reiten’s 44 shot-creating actions demonstrate her creativity and ability to generate scoring opportunities, with Bronze and Kaneryd also playing significant roles in the attacking build-up.
Nusken’s 20 tackles won, supported by Cuthbert (15) and Kaneryd (11), showcases her defensive work rate and ability to break up opposition play, making her vital in midfield battles.
Overall, these stats highlight a well-balanced team where defensive solidity, creative play, and attacking prowess all contribute to Chelsea’s success, with standout performances from Reiten, Hampton, Bright, and Kaneryd.
Bompastor’s Strongest Starting XI: What makes this team excel?
Based on the available stats and the key performances of Chelsea players under Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea's strongest starting XI could look like this:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Hannah Hampton earns her place as the starting goalkeeper due to her consistency and shot-stopping ability, having conceded just 6 goals with an impressive 80% save rate, showcasing her reliability between the sticks.
Lucy Bronze is chosen at right-back for her defensive solidity and excellent ball distribution, completing 453 passes and contributing to Chelsea’s possession-based style while offering support in attack.
Millie Bright anchors the defence as the team’s leader, with 646 completed passes highlighting her importance in building play from deep, alongside her defensive strength and experience.
Nathalie Björn partners Bright at centre-back, providing composure, physicality, and strong ball-winning abilities, stepping in during Buchanan’s absence to ensure Chelsea’s defensive resilience.
Niamh Charles returns from injury to take the left-back role for her dynamic play, offering defensive stability while also supporting the attack with overlapping runs and width on the flank.
Sjoeke Nüsken is selected as the defensive midfielder for her exceptional ability to break up opposition play, having won 20 tackles, which makes her crucial in protecting the backline and regaining possession.
Erin Cuthbert features as the box-to-box midfielder due to her tireless work rate, versatility, and defensive contributions, with 15 tackles won and her ability to drive the team forward.
Johanna Rytting-Kaneryd earns her spot on the right wing as Chelsea’s most direct attacking threat, leading with 11 shots on target and 35 shot-creating actions, making her a constant danger for opposition defences.
Guro Reiten is the team’s creative heartbeat, boasting the highest xG (4.2) and 44 shot-creating actions, highlighting her ability to create and score vital goals.
Mayra Ramirez is chosen for her pace, physicality, and goal-scoring ability, with 10 shots on target proving her consistent threat in advanced areas.
Aggie Beever-Jones leads the line as the striker, combining excellent movement and finishing, reflected in her xG of 3.1 and 10 shots on target, making her a reliable goal-scoring outlet.
This lineup balances defensive strength, midfield control, and attacking dynamism, making it Chelsea’s strongest XI under Bompastor.
Breaking the European Curse:
The elusive prize that has haunted Chelsea for years is the pinnacle of women’s football: the UEFA Women’s Champions League. After a strong start to this year’s competition, with qualification already secured, the team will be optimistic about what lies ahead. But Chelsea know all too well that past success doesn’t guarantee future triumph. The likes of formidable opponents such as Barcelona will inevitably return, but could this year be different?
Under Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea have a manager with European pedigree—someone who has not only played in the competition but won it with Lyon. This experience was undoubtedly a key factor in Chelsea’s decision to appoint her as head coach. This Chelsea squad is brimming with belief that they can go all the way, but the real challenge lies in managing the hectic fixture schedule. With cup competitions added into the mix, squad rotation will be crucial, and while Chelsea have the depth, injuries could still prove problematic. The return of players like Lauren James and Sam Kerr will be vital, and they will rely heavily on the experience of players like new signing Lucy Bronze, who knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the highest level in this competition. If there’s ever a time for Chelsea to fight for the Champions League trophy, it’s now.
Is the league already guaranteed for Bompastor’s Chelsea?
In a competition as competitive as the WSL, predicting the eventual winner is never straightforward. While Chelsea’s position at the top remains secure for now, it's hard to say they’re guaranteed the trophy at this stage—and I’m sure even Chelsea fans would admit as much. Sonia Bompastor has delivered strong results so far, but Chelsea's recent draw against Leicester highlighted a potential vulnerability. While this may be a one-off blip, as all top teams experience, it raises questions about the team’s adaptability—something Bompastor will need to refine quickly. Despite this, Chelsea are still six points ahead of Manchester City and seven ahead of Arsenal, meaning the pressure is manageable for now. Arsenal’s poor start has worked in Chelsea’s favour, allowing them to create an early gap. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s struggles with injuries and recent dropped points have further tilted the balance in Chelsea’s favour. The real test will come in their upcoming clash with Arsenal, who are finding their form and will be determined to close the gap.
For Bompastor, the real challenge lies in how she responds to Chelsea’s poor performance against Leicester. In a short WSL season, dropping points can be costly, no matter when it happens. There’s no doubt this Chelsea team has the quality to challenge for the title, but to do so, they must remain focused and take it one game at a time.
Conclusion:
While the media's attention may be directed elsewhere, Chelsea will quietly continue their pursuit of success across all competitions, with their eyes firmly set on adding as many trophies as possible. Sonia Bompastor, a proven winner, has had an impressive start to the season that has largely flown under the radar. Adapting seamlessly to a new league, she has extracted top performances from her players, with only one slip-up so far. This Chelsea squad is a blend of seasoned champions, emerging talent, and boundless optimism. With Bompastor at the helm, there’s no doubt that Chelsea have every opportunity to go all the way this season.