Guardian writers' predicted place: 2nd (NB: this isn't essentially Suzanne Wrack's prediction however the common of our writers' suggestions)
Final season's place: 1st
Prospects
How do you comply with up on a sixth successive league title and a home treble, secured within the supervisor's first season? For many groups the reply could be “with nice issue”, however Chelsea are a special beast.
Terrifyingly, regardless of their home dominance, the Blues left room for enchancment final season. As Sonia Bompastor instructed the membership's web site: “We did nicely by way of trophies and outcomes final season however we weren't all the time pleased with the performances and didn't present as a lot consistency as I would love. We're engaged on giving much more readability to the gamers for them to execute what we wish them to realize on the pitch.”
The distinction going into the brand new marketing campaign is that they have a extra settled squad and a extra settled supervisor. There have been incomings, Ellie Carpenter the spotlight, however this has been a summer season of consolidation and of constructing in direction of the performances they need to see week in, week out. “I wouldn't say there will probably be an enormous distinction from final season,” mentioned Bompastor. “This season, we are going to go additional and in additional element on what we have been making an attempt to realize final season.
“Final season was about attending to know one another on the pitch. Now, we're in a greater place to enter the main points of how we need to work collectively.”
The problem of sustaining their stranglehold on the league title is getting more durable annually. This season Arsenal are buoyed by their Champions League win and Manchester Metropolis are helmed by a brand new supervisor and welcoming again their injured cohort. Each golf equipment are determined to unseat Chelsea, who face a stern check within the season opener after they welcome Metropolis to Stamford Bridge. It is going to be an opportunity for the champions to make a press release.
Chelsea are nonetheless looking for their lacking piece, too, their powerful exit from the Champions League by the hands of Barcelona solely made worse by Arsenal's eventual triumph. With Barcelona's monetary struggles nicely documented and Arsenal's underdog victory a shock, the European door is open for whichever group push hardest at it.
The supervisor
Bompastor's first season was phenomenal. Enhancing on the success of the previous season whereas adapting to a brand new nation and tradition with your loved ones is outstanding and has resulted in a well-deserved place on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or girls's coach of the yr award. Recognized for being a ruthless competitor, Bompastor has confirmed herself a worthy successor to Emma Hayes. The Champions League frustrations aired by Bompastor and her group after that they had secured a home treble converse to the drive and ambition of the supervisor and her gamers.
Off-field image
Chelsea have by no means been afraid to spend large to get the gamers they need, with Naomi Girma's signing in January displaying that's not about to vary. The ladies's facet of the membership was controversially break up from the boys's and offered to Blueco, Chelsea's father or mother firm, for £200m in April. The valuation was justified in Could when the Reddit co-founder, and husband of Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian purchased a ten% stake within the membership for £20m. Ohanian has spoken publicly concerning the large ambitions he has for Chelsea and the deal prompted quite a lot of groups to show resentful.
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Star signing
Chelsea have had a much less star-studded window than in recent times, with the goalkeeper Livia Peng becoming a member of from Werder Bremen, the German ahead Mara Alber coming from Hoffenheim and Becky Spencer's mortgage deal turned everlasting. The arrival of the Australia defender Carpenter from Bompastor's former facet Lyon is the spotlight, although. Carpenter has twice received the Champions League with Lyon and has performed in two World Cups and three Olympics with the Matildas. “Everybody has been so welcoming, the employees and the gamers,” she mentioned. “I'm having fun with the periods; it's an ideal setting to work in, and it'll carry one of the best out of me. It's all very constructive, and I'm excited to see extra.”
Stepping up
There are such a lot of thrilling younger gamers at Chelsea it's exhausting to decide on. Aggie Beever-Jones and Hannah Hampton arguably had their “stepping up” campaigns final time period. This season it's Wieke Kaptein's flip. The midfielder has proven flashes of brilliance when she has come into the facet. “She simply brings to the group quite a lot of high quality out of possession,” mentioned Bompastor when Kaptein performed in the course of the uncommon 4 back-to-back video games in opposition to Manchester Metropolis final season. “She's a younger participant however she is actually assured on the ball but additionally works so exhausting off the ball.”
It was a very good summer season for …
As with Arsenal, it might be unfair to not point out all of Chelsea's Euro 2025 winners. Niamh Charles scored her penalty within the ultimate shortly after approaching, Lauren James scored twice in opposition to the Netherlands regardless of harm struggles in the course of the event, Beever-Jones shone in her cameos and scored in opposition to Wales, Keira Walsh is the metronome of England's midfield, battling Lucy Bronze was sensational in so some ways and Hampton shrugged off Mary Earps's shadow after which some with two heroic performances in penalty shootouts so as to add to a breakthrough event.
Predominant initiative to draw extra followers
Chelsea introduced method forward of the season particulars of the 4 WSL video games they may play at Stamford Bridge, in an try to get followers dedicated to displaying up en masse. They largely picked showpiece video games, having beforehand tended to play lower-level opposition there, selecting their opener in opposition to Metropolis, their fixture in opposition to promoted London Metropolis Lionesses and video games in opposition to Arsenal and Manchester United. They've offered The Bridge Go, which permits followers to purchase a ticket for all 4 fixtures. Chelsea supporters could have their journey subsidised and capped at £15 for home video games outdoors London once more.
