It was the identical feeling final season – that Chelsea didn’t really feel invincible and there have been areas the place they may very well be exploited.
But no one managed to take benefit as they went unbeaten of their WSL, FA Cup and League Cup triumphs.
They took time to settle in Friday’s opening sport, as an alternative needing to determine easy methods to cease the motion of their opponents and get round a new-look set-up from Andree Jeglertz in his first sport accountable for Metropolis.
The match had been teed up properly by Chelsea’s presentation of blockbuster deadline day signing Alyssa Thompson strolling out on a purple carpet earlier than kick-off.
Sam Kerr, the Australian famous person striker, was additionally again within the squad for the primary time in 20 months after her restoration from an anterior cruciate ligament harm.
And there was a debut for Kerr’s compatriot Ellie Carpenter – an thrilling full-back addition from eight-time Champions League winners Lyon.
However after understanding Metropolis’s fluid system, the hosts rapidly settled into their ordinary routine to take management of the match.
They realised Carpenter had the higher of Metropolis captain Alex Greenwood together with her tempo and was inflicting the visiting defence issues. So Chelsea saved getting the ball to Carpenter and the debutant assisted Aggie Beever-Jones for the opener.
They doubled their lead within the second half, capitalising as soon as once more with their attacking high quality after Metropolis created good possibilities of their very own, however didn’t take them.
An personal objective from Niamh Charles on a Greenwood set-piece was the one chink within the armour regardless of all of Metropolis’s strain and creativity – and the unanswered chants of “we wish Kerr” was the one factor lacking in an in any other case good state of affairs for the Chelsea assist.
That they had three factors towards one in every of their title rivals and Carpenter ran the present.
“Yeah, I am happy with the consequence but additionally the efficiency,” stated supervisor Bompastor. “Within the first half we had management and created probably the most harmful alternatives.
“We have been capable of hold some actually good gamers at Metropolis quiet. We had a powerful begin within the season and I am happy with that, however it’s solely the primary sport.
“When it comes to the psychological side, it is at all times necessary to beat an enormous opponent and somebody who’s making an attempt to struggle for the league.
“I will not go loopy with these three factors. We nonetheless have 21 [games] to go.”
About the Author
