Sonia Bompastor exclusive: Chelsea Women head coach offers insight into playing philosophy ahead of Arsenal Women clash in WSL | Football News

As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. While ‘slow and steady’ football is often criticized, Sonia Bompastor has already won quite a few races since joining Chelsea Women, while taking her time to implement her style of play.

Coming in and instantly trying to change a team and culture honed over 12 years of success by her predecessor, Emma Hayes, could have ended in disaster.

Instead, Bompastor patiently molded the team in his image. For example, she began using a three-man defense towards the end of last season, moving away from her previously deployed back four, as Chelsea completed a domestic treble.

Hayes was known for her tactical fluidity, but Bompastor prefers the back three in her own footballing philosophy and has continued that path this season. It was something she was already looking to introduce upon her arrival at Chelsea last summer, while also being productive on both ends of the pitch.

Ahead of Saturday’s WSL showdown with Arsenal Women, Bompastor exclusively said Aerial sports: “It was planned from the start. It’s part of who I am as a manager, my philosophy, my vision.

“I just had to make sure the players accepted that and that takes time. People think it can be easy, but it’s not. We have people who come from different countries, who don’t always speak the same language, which can be a challenge sometimes.

“You have to make sure everyone understands the same thing and when you think about it, having 11 players understanding the same thing at the same time in the game is a big challenge.

“So it’s a lot of work in training sessions, a lot of video as well so that the players understand what we want to achieve. The players are intelligent, they understand what we want to achieve, so they contribute to it.

“We’re probably not where I’d like us to be yet, we probably never will because, again, it’s really difficult, but I’m pretty happy with what we’ve accomplished so far.

“The mentality in this team is great. What we do on the pitch, we always find a way to win.

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“People sometimes comment a lot on the way we play, but when I analyze the games and look at the stats, most of the time we are dominant in many ways.

“Even though people want us to probably have the ball most of the time and everything, we always try to be in control, we always try to be dominant.

“The most important thing in football is to be efficient and clinical, so if we achieve that I’m happy.”

This applies to both ends of the court. Chelsea have conceded just three goals this season – the fewest in the WSL – and are yet to lose in the league. In fact, they never lost a domestic match under Bompastor.

If the Blues avoid defeat at the Emirates, they will equal their own record of 33 games without a defeat in the WSL, although that is a streak that does not interest Bompastor.

“I think this streak of invincibility belongs more to the media,” she mused. “For us, a new season, we are starting from zero. We haven’t done anything yet, apart from winning a few important games in the league.

“For this reason, we don’t really focus on that as a team and even less as a coach. Every game is important. We take it game by game and that’s what matters most to us.”

The trip to Arsenal could once again see Ellie Carpenter and Lucy Bronze line up on the Chelsea right. When the Australian signed in the summer, questions were raised about how the two would be used together.

But in Saturday’s 2-0 win over London City Lionesses, the pair played together successfully for the first time – Carpenter even scoring his first Chelsea goal.

“Lucy and Ellie are two great athletes,” Bompastor said of her right-handed duo. “I don’t want to have to choose between them when they’re both playing.

“Maybe in the future I will have to do that, depending on how we play with a three or four defense, but at the same time, if I think the two can get along and play together, that will be great.

“Both have a lot of experience at international level. They have different profiles, different qualities and playing them together gives a lot of power to the team. They know how to defend, they know how to attack together, so it’s a big strength for us.”

Having two players of such quality competing for similar starting spots further highlights the depth Bompastor has at his disposal. Its matchday squads are packed with international experience and multiple trophy winners.

This season, Chelsea have had eight different scorers from the WSL and have made the most changes to their starting XI (18) as they attempt to compete on multiple fronts again.

“It’s really crucial,” Bompastor said of his team. “When you are Chelsea manager you have to rotate your team and you have a lot of quality and depth.

“You have to make sure you maintain the right balance so that people feel that they are part of the success. For this reason, it is very important for me, as a manager, to give everyone the opportunity to perform and get involved.

“When you have to play every three days, three matches a week, it’s really important to have fresh legs. If you don’t have the depth, it’s really difficult to live up to your ambitions.”

Although rotation is key, Millie Bright is a player who has been a mainstay of Chelsea’s XIs for many years. If she plays against Arsenal, she will equal Jordan Nobbs’ WSL record of 210 appearances.

Against Liverpool next Sunday, live Aerial sports, the Blues captain could surpass her former English teammate and make history.

“It shows how well she has been playing at the highest level for so long,” Bompastor said of her defender. “She has been part of this club for a very long time, she is part of the base and the foundations and she has already contributed a lot to this club.

“When I was manager of Lyon, I was always impressed by Millie, the player she was on the pitch, but joining Chelsea I am even more impressed because she is a good player, but also a good person.

“It’s very important for me too to have the opportunity to work with athletes who have quality on and off the field. Every day she shows good values ​​and sets an example for others. It’s nice to work with someone who has this mentality.

“Whenever we have a conversation, she always starts saying, ‘I want to make sure I’ll be available to play the game on the weekend’ or even when we play every three days. Football for her is everything and I think she gives everything for football.

“I’m really happy to have her as team captain and to have her on my team. It’s a big accomplishment for her and well deserved because she works hard every day.”

Watch Arenal Women vs. Chelsea Women live Aerial sports Saturday from 11:30 a.m.; kick-off at 12 p.m.