article-image

Bompastor revels in Chelsea's League Cup success after 'tough' WSL season

1
4
Clock Icon13 hoursFootball

Sonia Bompastor lauded the quality of her Chelsea team after they retained the Women's League Cup title with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Ashton Gate. 

Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones struck in either half for the Blues as they eased to a comfortable victory, while also being crowned champions for the fourth time. 

Chelsea have now won 14 of their last 16 meetings with United across all competitions (D1 L1), with this their third victory against them in the League Cup.

For Bompastor, meanwhile, she has won all six of her domestic finals as a manager, with her side also keeping a clean sheet in four of those matches. 

However, their fortunes in the Women's Super League have been very different, with Chelsea 10 points adrift of runaway leaders Manchester City in the standings. 

And Bompastor believed her side deserved this success after a tough league season, telling BBC Sport: "A lot of happiness because it's always difficult to play in a final and win.

"Sometimes people just think because we are Chelsea, it's just a habit.

"But it takes a lot for my players to perform and grab a trophy. Really proud of my players. Every occasion, they just show up.

"I want to focus on players who are available, but if you look at the squad this season, it's been tough.

"We have had some big injuries, really important players who were not playing for us, but it just shows the quality we have in the squad."

Though a comeback in the WSL seems unlikely, with the Opta supercomputer handing Chelsea just a 1.8% chance of overhauling City, the Blues still have silverware to fight for. 

The Blues are still in the FA Cup, where they face Tottenham in the quarter-finals, as well as the Champions League, with WSL rivals Arsenal up next in the last eight. 

"I just want the players to celebrate a little bit, but we are playing again on Wednesday [against Brighton], an important game," Bompastor said.

"We are used to that and love to be in that position.

"I'm really pleased for my players, we have a big month with a lot of games, and this is the best start."