This season has seen a changing of the guard in the Women’s Super League. A symbolic passing of the baton happened on Sunday. Six-time defending champions Chelsea conceded the title to coveted champions Manchester City.
However, this was not a happy handover. It was a siege. Manchester City are on course to win the title in 2025/26 and appear ready to defeat anyone who stands in their way. It’s the ruthlessness we once associated with Chelsea themselves.
City’s latest win, a 5-1 thrashing at the Etihad, certainly proved that they are a team on their way to the top. Meanwhile, Sonia Bompastre’s Chelsea look like a team in decline, with low confidence and “not having a good dynamic,” as the Frenchman later said.
Bompastre suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in her managerial career, and it was by far Chelsea’s worst performance under her. It’s as if Man City has become everything Chelsea used to be.
Manchester City’s Carolyn celebrates hat-trick
Kerorin’s hat trick in the second half drew chants of “Easy, easy, easy!” After Vivianne Miedema headed home the fifth goal from a corner, the home fans cheered six points, not out of irony but because it was absolutely possible. City had a total of 11 shots on target and created eight big chances. If anything, the scoreline was generous.
City ended the weekend 12 points behind Chelsea, the Blues’ furthest away from the top of the table since the final day of the 2018-19 season when Arsenal were crowned champions. Given their incredible 34-game unbeaten run, their stunning fall from glory was only halted by Everton eight weeks ago.
Indeed, Sunday was the culmination of Bompastre’s most difficult days since he took over 18 months ago, or perhaps ever. She admitted that “nothing worked out.” However, this result came out.
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Chelsea lost to Arsenal again last weekend, conceding yet another concession in the title race.
Their overall performance for the season has declined in almost every metric, underperforming every other team against their xG tally and also having a high goal drain rate. Liverpool, the bottom club, have taken fewer shots inside their own box this season than Chelsea.
The decline is as clearly visible as it is shown by the underlying numbers. “We’re not worried,” Etihad’s Bonpastor stressed. “You have to understand when a team is not in a good place in terms of dynamics. I think it’s reflected in our body shape. We’re not in the best shape right now in terms of confidence. That’s normal. We’re losing games. That’s not where we want to be. Sometimes it’s reflected in our body language.”
Sonia Bompastre admits she wishes Chelsea had done more in recent transfer windows
A number of players were visibly depressed on the pitch, including captain Millie Bright and centre-back partner Naomi Girma. Chelsea are not used to losing games, much less losing in this way, and for a team hit by injuries, they are quite tired.
Unfortunately for Bompastor, this decline comes at a time when one of its closest rivals is hitting its best rhythm in a decade. The rift between classes was clear even in the table. Few expected City to be losers in coach Andriy Jegratz’s first season.
After all, Man City are a more complete team, with far more quality depth and variety in their game, making for a formidable combination. They have made better use of the recent transfer window than most teams.
Yet Chelsea’s incredible team strength has always been their best asset, backed by the biggest financial outlay of any WSL club in terms of transfer fees paid. Chelsea have always been the envy of the league in that regard. What has changed?
Chelsea concede five goals for the first time since 2018/19
“Without commenting too much, I would have liked to have been in a better position in the last transfer window,” Bompastre said, suggesting the club either failed to achieve its goals or was not willing to pursue them. In any case, Chelsea’s team lacks the necessary personnel to retain the title for a seventh consecutive year. City won’t be able to blow it away from here.
The Blues must now put all their eggs in the Champions League basket. In any case, there is no doubt that it is a competition that they wanted to win with greater hunger. Having finished third in the league and automatically qualified for the quarter-finals, their European tour will not resume until March, but there is plenty of time to break the cycle.
Meanwhile, the City has its own quest. They have transformed into a title force faster than even Jeguraz had certainly expected. This is the new normal at WSL. Now everyone else, including Chelsea, is responsible for making up that deficit.
