Sonia Bompastor said Chelsea will need to find different ways of playing against high-pressing opponents if they are to win a sixth consecutive Women’s Super League title.
The former Lyon boss marked her first game in charge of the Blues with an uncomfortable 1-0 win over Aston Villa.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s brilliant solo goal late in the first half at Kingsmeadow was the difference between the sides but Villa, who also had a new manager in the dugout in the shape of Robert de Pauw, could count themselves unlucky to lose after a spirited display.
First win of the Bompastor era. ✅ pic.twitter.com/QHMiLMFNgK
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) September 20, 2024
The game almost concluded with a sensational headed equaliser in stoppage time from Villa goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo, denied brilliantly by her counterpart Hannah Hampton.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper also made a smart save from Rachel Daly late on as Villa battled gamely for a point but the hosts clung on to hand Bompastor victory in the WSL curtain-raiser.
“We started well,” she said. “Sometimes we didn’t recognise during the game where we should have played.
“But you need to take into account the scenario of the game, especially the second half. Villa put us under a lot of pressure and you have to be able to find a more direct style of play behind their back line.
“If you keep playing short when the opposition is pressing you it’s sometimes difficult. Being smart and trying to find a different style is important when you want to win.”
Starting the season with a BIG win! 👊#CFCW pic.twitter.com/beYAW7MXYr
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) September 20, 2024
The winning goal came after 36 minutes and it was all Rytting Kaneryd’s own work.
The ball arrived at her feet in a central position with new signing from Barcelona Lucy Bronze striding up outside her. Feigning to pass, the Swede instead cut back inside onto her left foot, left defender Paula Tomas on the ground and sent an effort curling around the dive of D’Angelo and into the far corner for the first goal of Bompastor’s reign.
Millie Bright ought have doubled the lead but miscued her header from Erin Cuthbert’s deep cross, then Daly sent a header against the crossbar from Kenza Dali’s cross as Villa reminded Chelsea of their threat.
“I think we started good,” said Bompastor. “We were able to score the first goal. We had two or three very clear situations in the box, we should have scored more goals.
“In a high-level game when you are not able to score the second goal, you give confidence to the opposition. We should have scored more, been more efficient. It would changed the game for sure.
“We need to give credit to Aston Villa. They will make some trouble to other teams in the league. That’s why the league is so competitive because the other teams are getting better and better.”
Villa boss De Pauw reflected on a game he felt his side deserved to take a point from, and was left ruing D’Angelo’s near miss at the death.
“It’s what we will ask ourselves (how we didn’t score) for a long time,” he said. “If you can force the champions in this way, it says something about what we have this season.
“If (D’Angelo) had scored it I would have carried her off the pitch. If she’d made it, it would have gone around the world.”
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