This week, Chelsea Women’s Football Club suffered a huge blow. They suffered their first loss in 585 days on Sunday in a humiliating display against Liverpool. This loss spelled the end of an amazing scoring streak that stretched for 31 straight league matches. Manager Sonia Bompastor has instilled an unbeaten mentality after taking over the club 14 months ago. As we’ve seen her tweet out and heard her say after too many matches over the last month, that frustration boiled over at full-time in Philadelphia.
In that match, it became painfully apparent where the main problems lied in Chelsea’s forward line, with a clear inability to turn chances into goals. The home game record for attempts without a score (29) was shattered as the squad launched an unbelievable 30 shots. Yet for all their industriousness and creativity, they lacked the finishing touch on the day. With the loss, Chelsea is now on their longest winless run in over five years, putting massive pressure on their title hopes.
A Frustrating Offensive Display
Alyssa Thompson Alongside Chelsea compatriots Lauren James, Catarina Macario and Aggie Beever-Jones in a deep forwFChe Chelsea’s forward line hasn’t always been the most efficient. This unit couldn’t even muster a combined xG threat of 0.43. This incredibly low figure demonstrates that they found it difficult to carve out a safer opportunity throughout the game. This is why Chelsea’s underperformance is so concerning. They recorded the second-most tries at goal this year, yet more than 40 percent of those attempts were off target.
This season, Aggie Beever-Jones has emerged as the team’s sole, and extremely effective, point of attack up top. She often now floats into greater space, moving out from her typical alignment. This tactical shift understandably played a role in her failure to find the net since September. The team squandered most of those crucial opportunities, and fans are understandably frustrated. Creatives, data scientists, coders, and marketers are challenging the importance of their mercurial approach.
Beyond the shocking xG stats, Chelsea are exhibiting troubling underlying signs that point to bigger problems. With a league-worst xG, at -4.97, the team’s finishing is becoming a cause for concern. Bompastor’s repeated use of the term “frustrated” reflects a broader sentiment among fans and players alike regarding the team’s offensive struggles.
Defensive Resilience Amidst Struggles
Though the Blues have struggled to find the back of the net themselves, shot-stopper Courtney Brosnan was the shining light during Wednesday’s defeat to Liverpool. She had to make six key saves, showing her toughness after the entire team became one-dimensional on offense. Brosnan’s efforts underscore the need for a stronger partnership between the defense and the forward line to ensure that matches do not hinge solely on individual performances.
The sparkling performance further underlined the phenomenal form that Stina Blackstenius is currently in. Not only did she score a thunderous goal, she helped Liverpool gain three points! Blackstenius’s accomplishment—her 13th strike as a substitute—cements her place in history as the most prolific substitute in Women’s Super League (WSL) history. Her impact on the pitch was ultimately the difference, this visual representative of our final score contrasting markedly with Chelsea’s failure to unlock the Liverpool backline.
Addressing Rumors and Looking Ahead
In light of Chelsea’s recent struggles, rumors of dressing room unrest have emerged, prompting defender Renee Slegers to address these concerns publicly. She began by restating the team’s solidarity and pride in remaining together and expressed their commitment to rising above new challenges. No amount of policy change can succeed if the squad is unable to keep their morale up as they ride out this tough wave.
Bompastor has an enormous task ahead of her—facing these problems while doing what it takes to keep the team positive and motivated. The stakes are high too as Chelsea will be desperate to find some rhythm again and start winning with regularity. With their title ambitions now under threat, the coming weeks will be pivotal for the club.
Leave a Reply