How Chelsea Extended Dynasty With Latest Wsl Title

When erstwhile head Emma Hayes announced her departure from Chelsea, a seed of uncertainty was planted - was this nan extremity of their dominance?

Who could perchance switch nan female who had led them to 5 successive Women's Super League titles and 14 awesome trophies successful 12 years?

The extremity of an era, an invitation for their rivals and a caller situation for Chelsea to navigate.

But a twelvemonth on, those thoughts seemed naive, foolish even, erstwhile celebrations collapsed retired astatine Leigh Sports Village aft Chelsea's 1-0 triumph complete Manchester United confirmed them arsenic convention champions again.

Hayes' successor Sonia Bompastor turned around, fist-pumped and roared towards her staff, past unwrapped a emblem to springiness to her players to observe with.

The easiness successful which she has taken connected Hayes' bequest has been conscionable arsenic awesome arsenic Chelsea's unbeaten tally and will only onslaught fearfulness into those hoping to topple them.

There was an aerial of inevitability arsenic Chelsea rocked up successful Manchester connected Wednesday night.

To opportunity they were preparing to triumph their sixth successive WSL title would beryllium wrong. Bompastor admitted they had not entertained nan thought that Arsenal would driblet points astatine Aston Villa, successful move opening nan doorway for Chelsea.

Instead, this was a group of wounded animals, still bruised from their Champions League semi-final humiliation connected Sunday and keen to put it right.

When connection of Arsenal's 5-2 conclusion astatine Aston Villa yet dispersed done nan stands astatine Leigh Sports Village, Chelsea's regular did not falter.

Bompastor stood arms folded, watching connected arsenic nan players warmed up, acting arsenic if they had nary denotation what was happening elsewhere.

This was Chelsea successful their usual, ruthless mood, preparing to get nan occupation done.

It was a stark opposition to nan outpouring of emotion that came from nan stands 90 minutes later erstwhile they were crowned champions again.

Supporters were truthful judge of triumph erstwhile Lucy Bronze headed successful nan game's only extremity successful nan 74th minute, that they sang "Chelsea, champions" connected repetition until nan end.

Chelsea, arsenic they person done truthful often this season, near it precocious to break nan deadlock but did what needed to beryllium done, moreover erstwhile they were not playing their best.

"Mentality monsters" has been their tag successful caller times and they leant connected that galore times again this season.

Of their full goals scored, 33% of them came successful nan last 15 minutes of matches - much than immoderate different WSL team.

They besides picked up 8 points aft coming from down successful games - only Manchester City person earned much from losing positions.

Essentially, it was ever Chelsea's title to suffer - they had won nan erstwhile 5 WSL trophies, had nan biggest fund successful nan convention and invested further successful nan transportation window.

Their spending has been unmatched - but that is why they are champions. The chasing battalion walked, arsenic Chelsea ran, bouyed by their invincible mentality.

When Hayes stepped down, Chelsea recruited 1 of nan champion coaches successful Europe, snatching Bompastor from French giants Lyon.

When they were pushed to nan brink past play by Manchester City, winning their 5th successive title connected extremity difference, they responded by signing Champions League winners Bronze and Keira Walsh from Barcelona.

They bounced backmost from a conclusion astatine Manchester City successful nan Champions League to hit them days later successful nan league, and scored a stoppage-time victor against Liverpool to book their spot successful nan Women's FA Cup final.

They person built a squad tin of challenging connected each home fronts and they stay connected people to triumph nan Treble this season, pinch 2 trophies already successful nan bag.

Is nan spread widening betwixt Chelsea and everybody other successful nan WSL? Their points tally and unbeaten play suggests it is.

Arsenal and Manchester United showed their credentials successful spells. But nan quality has ever been that Chelsea still triumph erstwhile they are vulnerable.

Chelsea's mentality has played a "massive part" successful their success, Bompastor said connected Wednesday, but her activity is different cardinal component.

Brought successful nether a weight of expectation, pinch large boots to fill, Bompastor has ever remained calm and ne'er looked retired of place.

As Liverpool's men celebrated lifting nan Premier League trophy conscionable days earlier - Arne Slot triumphing successful nan glory of Jurgen Klopp's well-laid foundations - similarities could beryllium seen successful Bompastor and Hayes.

The Frenchwoman arrived successful London knowing she had a squad afloat of talent, extent and experience. Her occupation was to make them moreover better.

'Perfection' and 'the ideal' are words Bompastor has utilized consistently passim nan play but she knows that will return time.

Always wanting more, she said astir craving perfection and wanting to create a existent personality adjacent season.

But successful conscionable a short abstraction of time, she tin person nary complaints astir their occurrence successful England, moreover if nan disappointment of their Champions League exit weighs heavily.

Bompastor has made tactical tweaks - encouraging much possession, a much fierce property and a little nonstop attack connected nan ball.

She has embedded caller signings, turned winger Sandy Baltimore into a full-back and fixed work to 19-year-old midfielder Wieke Kaptein.

Perhaps nan biggest opposition to nan Hayes' era is Bompastor's personality.

While Hayes often played mindgames, kept group connected their toes and utilized her level to situation norms - Bompastor is sometimes understated.

Her title celebrations appeared to beryllium subdued, but successful her ain words, she is simply a "simple person" and will bask precious moments pinch family backmost successful London.

A "little bit" of champage and immoderate cocoa whitethorn beryllium connected nan cards but Bompastor already has her oculus connected nan Treble.

She was conscious of her achievements but humble capable to admit Hayes' involvement, taking clip to convey her successful her post-match media conference.

It was a people of respect arsenic Bompastor began not only reflecting connected Chelsea's past achievements, but connected what could still travel successful nan future.

This whitethorn beryllium nan first title triumph nether Bompastor but if this is simply a acold outcry from nan perfection she craves, Chelsea's early is an breathtaking one.