Sonia Bompastor has quickly made her mark at Chelsea Women, leading the team to a stellar start in her first half-season as head coach.
Since her appointment in July 2024 to replace Emma Hayes, Bompastor has emphasized consistency, defensive solidity, and a winning mentality, which has propelled the Blues to the top of the Women’s Super League and through to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
Reflecting on her early days at Chelsea, Bompastor recalled her first pre-season match against Gotham.
“I remember perfectly my first game in charge against Gotham in pre-season. I was probably not expecting us to have a strong start in that game, but if we reflect on that aspect, it has been consistent from us. Most of the time, we have been able to make a good start in games, and we had a strong start to the season. That’s something important for the mentality.”
Bompastor’s philosophy has been evident in Chelsea’s performances. The team has showcased strong opening phases in matches and a disciplined approach to maintaining control throughout games.
She credits the players’ adaptability and commitment to the tactical plan for this success.
“In terms of the game model and how we want to play, I think we were in a good position until the end of November. We were progressing out of possession, and I was happy with how we were defending and how the team performed in the defensive parts of the game,” she said.
The results speak volumes about her impact. Chelsea Women went into the winter break six points clear at the top of the WSL standings, having dominated their domestic opponents.
They also completed an impeccable Champions League group-stage campaign, winning all six matches against Real Madrid, Celtic, and FC Twente.
With a strong foundation laid, Bompastor is focused on maintaining momentum and pushing her team to even greater heights in the second half of the season.
