Are Chelsea back in business?
Can Chelsea finally shed the underdog tag? The odds had them as early favourites, yet seasoned pundits still tipped Man City. The market seemed to hedge on history.
Man City may still loom large, but Chelsea’s opening run can’t be brushed aside. After seven games they sit top on goal difference, unbeaten since a draw with Aston Villa. Their head‑to‑head record mirrors City’s, though the nuance runs deeper.
A comeback win over Crystal Palace, achieved without Keira Walsh or Lauren James, showcased deliberate strength and Bompastor’s balancing act. The Blues now travel to Roma for their Champions League tie.
Are they built to keep the pace? Stats say yes: Chelsea lead the league in goals, chance creation and have the stingiest defence. Digging deeper reveals a revitalised side.
After two years, Bompastor’s vision finally clicks. The French coach always craved technical control, but midfield alignment eluded her. Now Chelsea display a clear, progressive, possession‑based attack.
The system leans on high‑up‑and‑down full‑backs who stretch play when in possession and compact the shape when out of it. Ellie Carpenter and Katie McCabe fit the bill perfectly.
Carpenter tops the league for two‑way impact, boasting three goals, 17 shots, 49 box touches and 40 open‑play crosses. She and McCabe have each created 17 chances for teammates.
Lexi Potter’s arrival has given Keira Walsh more freedom, letting Chelsea dictate tempo with variety and reliability. The side is now a pleasure to watch and more decisive in the final third.
Summer signing Melvine Malard has delivered four goals from four starts, matching Lauren James’s consistency. Midfield pressure also fuels turnovers, letting players like Walsh and Sjoeke Nusken add four more.
Such steady output would win over the toughest doubters, and Bompastor deserves credit for the halftime tweaks that flipped the Palace game.
A relentless Chelsea rhythm spells danger for rivals. Time will tell if they stay close chasers or actually overtake Man City.
Are Man United in better shape than first thought?
Last season City won both derby legs 3‑0, a low‑key affair that hinted at another one‑sided clash. City’s flawless start and United’s uneven form under Eva Olid fed that narrative.
Olid’s side, however, has turned a corner, now on a four‑game unbeaten run as her possession‑centric plan takes shape.
Against Charlton United completed 700 passes at 88.7 % accuracy – both club records for a WSL match. This week they matched City’s ball‑share, delivering more accurate passes overall and deeper into opposition territory.
Jess Park shone, orchestrating the build‑up with relentless energy. She is the glue, the carrier who embraces the responsibility of anchoring every attack, while Ella Toone also commands attention.
These figures are more than baby steps; they prove a modest squad can execute Olid’s systematic style and still snag results. Taking points off City is a triumph that lifted them to fourth place.
Olid leans on key players to sustain consistency, but six weeks of progress have broken new ground. The manager beams: “How this team has built confidence from day one to now, the progression has been massive.”