Whisper it, but Sonia Bompastor’s Chelsea could eclipse the Emma Hayes era

Chelsea will defend their unbeaten Women’s Super League run when Manchester City visit on Saturday

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After basking in her side’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool last weekend, Sonia Bompastor was a picture of pragmatism. “It has been a perfect start for us in terms of results, points and also performances,” said the Chelsea manager, “but we haven’t won anything yet.”
That much might be true, but Bompastor has certainly won over hearts in west London. There has been a smooth transition from the Emma Hayes era and the start of Bompastor’s reign has been nothing short of emphatic. The Frenchwoman has presided over six wins in as many games in the Women’s Super League – Chelsea’s best ever start to a league season. She is also the first manager in the women’s top flight to win their first four away matches. And on Wednesday night, she extended her winning record in the Women’s Champions League, after Chelsea made it three from three in their group with a 2-1 victory at Celtic.
On Saturday, the former Lyon manager faces the biggest test of her short tenure when Chelsea take on Manchester City in a tasty top-of-the-table tussle. Gareth Taylor’s team are enjoying their own rich vein of form, including a 2-0 win over Champions League holders Barcelona last month. But having burst out of the blocks under Bompastor, it is Chelsea who will be marginal favourites at Stamford Bridge.
Bompastor’s leadership qualities are telling; her surname is the Portuguese translation for ‘good shepherd’. She inherited a fine flock of players from the Hayes era, but her lightning start in London suggests she is capable of matching – if not bettering – her predecessor. Sure, it would take something wondrous to surpass the 14 major trophies Hayes collected at the London club during her 11-year reign, but Bompastor could be in for her own bumper crop if her team continue their dominant performances. Whisper it quietly, Bompastor’s side are already outperforming Chelsea teams of the Hayes era.
Chelsea’s 23 league goals are the most by a side after six matches of a WSL campaign since Arsenal in 2021-22 (also 23). It is also the club’s highest tally at this point since the 2017-18 season (24), while data from Opta shows Chelsea come out on top on almost every attacking metric, including the number of shots, goals, expected goals and shots on target, so far this season. Ominously for City, Chelsea’s shot conversion rate (21 per cent) is almost double that of their own (12.8 per cent).
Behind the flurry of statistics are the personnel who are firing on all fronts. Bompastor did not need to orchestrate a complete overhaul, but has made understated tweaks to a side that, come the business end of the season, will aim to scale new heights. As the first woman to win the Champions League as a player and a coach, Bompastor’s long-term objective is to mastermind a European title that eluded Hayes. She has talked about the need to stamp her own authority on a team that already has a fine winning pedigree.
Sandy Baltimore, the France forward, has proved a streetwise signing from Paris St-Germain, as has Lucy Bronze, who arrived from Barcelona in the summer. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s season has already turned into a superb highlights reel. The Swedish forward has been at the centre of Chelsea’s crowd-pleasing moments, like the thundering volley she blasted in her side’s 5-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur last month.
A phenomenal strike 🤩 Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s strike against Tottenham is the @BarclaysFooty Goal of the Month! #BarclaysWSL @ChelseaFCW pic.twitter.com/RT57UESm6E
From the experience of Guro Reiten to up-and-coming English striker Aggie Beever-Jones, this is a side that is well balanced, while Mayra Ramírez is increasingly becoming the attacking lynchpin. The Colombian brings a physicality that is unrivalled by most in the league except City’s own Khadija Shaw, City’s A-lister who has been scoring for fun.
Given their perfect start to the season, it is little wonder Chelsea’s players sense Bompastor is building something special. “We’ve probably got the best squad we’ve ever had, and Sonia’s certainly setting the stall out early,” said Erin Cuthbert, the Chelsea midfielder, last weekend. Compliments do not come much bigger than that.
Ramírez might be underselling herself when it comes to sticking the ball in the net, not featuring in the top 10 WSL goalscorers this season so far, but that should not undermine her industriousness. The Colombian is one of the most technically gifted on the ball. Greenwood, City’s captain this season, has been one of her side’s most valuable players and her calming presence in defence will be crucial.
Bright vs ‘Bunny’ – it does not get much tastier. The Jamaica international leads the goalscoring table with seven in as many games and will be City’s main point of attack. From her hold-up play to accuracy in front of goal, Bright can expect a busy day at the office.
Two attacking midfielders who spend large parts of matches interrogating opposition defences. Both are workhorses and will be key to their team’s transition play. Hemp is one of the most lethal crossers of the ball in open play, while Rytting Kaneryd provides a snapshot of Chelsea’s free-scoring form.
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