WSL: Sonia Bompastor hails 'important' Chelsea win over Man City but not getting carried away | OneFootball

Blues boss pleased with early confidence boost but expecting ‘difficult’ challenge to retain title

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Sonia Bompastor is not getting carried away after Chelsea opened their latest Women’s Super League (WSL) title defence with a 2-1 win over Manchester City.

Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano were on target to extend the Blues’ unbeaten domestic run in Friday night’s curtain-raiser at Stamford Bridge.

Bompastor acknowledged afterwards that it was an important confidence boost, but pointed out that there is still a long season ahead.

“That is only the first game,” she said. “In terms of psychological aspects, it is important to beat a big opponent, someone who is trying to fight for the title.

“The season will be difficult, we know that. I am not going to go crazy with these three points. It is good for the confidence, good to take three points, but it is the first win and we have 21 to go.

“This league is competitive, we can lose points against everyone. We can enjoy our weekends, then we can go again on Monday.”

Sam Kerr was passed fit for the match and appeared in Chelsea’s matchday squad for the first time since she ruptured her ACL in January 2024. She did not play, though, with Catarina Macario preferred as a replacement for Beever-Jones.

Bompastor said she would not rush the Australian back, adding: “It was my decision not to make that call. It is never easy for a player to come in this type of game, just because the rhythm is high.

“If it had been 2-0, maybe I would have done something different. But at 2-1 with City trying to push hard to score, I felt I had better options on the bench.”

After the Deadline Day addition of Alyssa Thompson from Angel City, Bompastor has plenty of cover to assist in being careful with Kerr’s return.

The Chelsea boss explained why she signed the American international, saying of Thompson: “She’s a player who will bring an impact. It is important to have depth, but also to have healthy competition in the squad.

“I am really pleased because I know her quality. I know what she can bring to the team, and I’m sure she will bring a big impact for us to continue to have success. She is a great player and a great person.”

On team news, Bompastor added that Naomi Girma missed the match with a fresh calf injury, unrelated to that which sidelined her when she first joined Chelsea in January. She expects Erin Cuthbert and Thompson to be fit for next weekend’s trip to Aston Villa.