Chelsea emerged victorious in the first of a rapid-fire four-match series against Manchester City, with three more games to follow. Sonia Bompastor's side left Kingsmeadow with smiles, having secured their first trophy of the season and keeping their quadruple hopes alive. This victory sets a positive tone for the challenging matches ahead.
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03-16, 2025As leaders of the Women's Super League, Chelsea were considered favorites to win the League Cup, having remained undefeated in all competitions this season. Manchester City, with only a few days to prepare, had interim head coach Nick Cushing begin his tenure on Tuesday. However, City put up a strong fight in Saturday's final, creating numerous chances and putting Chelsea under pressure. Ultimately, Chelsea displayed their ruthlessness, securing a 2-1 victory and lifting the trophy, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on key moments.
Ultimately, Chelsea did what they do best – win trophies. "Of course, it feels great, I'm really happy. Maybe the performance wasn't great, but we found a way to win the game," Bompastor said. "Man City is a very good team, so it was a tough game, but we expected that. We created some chances and did enough to win this game," she added, acknowledging the team's resilience.
Bompastor's celebrations after winning her first trophy as Chelsea manager will be low-key. She said the players have a curfew and will be in bed by 9 p.m. GMT as they face Manchester City again in four days. City will host Chelsea on Wednesday in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final, followed by a Women's Super League clash at the Etihad Stadium, and finally the return leg of the European tie at Stamford Bridge. Bompastor believes winning the first of the four games could be a "big advantage," but she doesn't want her players to be complacent, emphasizing the need for continued focus.
"Psychologically, it's very important to win the first game," she said. "Of course, it won't be the main factor going into the next game, but in terms of confidence, it's very positive. When you win games, you always recover better. It's a big advantage, but just because we won today, it's not enough to think that will be enough to win on Wednesday. In this very rare situation – when you have to face the same team four times in 12 days – it's very important to take it game by game," she explained, stressing the importance of a focused approach.
For Manchester City, the loss was frustrating. They came close to victory, testing goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and equalizing in the second half. City were on top before an unfortunate own goal from Yui Hasegawa restored Chelsea's lead, but they failed to capitalize on their dominance. Now, interim head coach Cushing must ensure they don't lose confidence. "My job is to turn this into motivation, not a frustration of losing, or a fear that we're playing a better team," he said, highlighting the need to maintain a positive mindset.
"I'm a simple guy. This feeling that you feel when you lose a final – if that's not enough to be motivation, then we're in the wrong game. If looking back at that game doesn't give you the belief that you can go and win… we did enough to win the game, and we had a lot of chances. I'm proud of that. If you carry this disappointment, it's not going to help on Wednesday. There's nothing we can do about this game now," Cushing stated, emphasizing the importance of learning from the loss.
The interesting aspect this week is what changes Cushing will make following the sudden dismissal of Gareth Taylor. Cushing, who previously spent seven successful years at Manchester City, won his first trophy in 2016, the Women's League Cup. However, limited by injuries, Cushing hasn't made too many changes on the pitch, instead focusing on pushing his players to "believe" in their abilities, fostering a sense of self-assurance within the team.
When asked what worked and what didn't, Cushing said: "The result didn't work! But I want this team to be a threat and believe it can be a threat – no matter how the game goes, no matter who we play. I hope you saw that. I thought we had a lot of opportunities in their box and put them under pressure a lot of times. We really believed we could get back into the game. These finals always come down to key moments. The key moment fell to Chelsea, and we didn't get back into the game at 2-1 down. But I've seen enough to know we can be competitive in the next three games. I believe this team can win. If I didn't believe, I wouldn't be here," he affirmed, expressing his confidence in the team's potential.
There were positives in Manchester City's performance, but it's a concern that Chelsea can find ways to win even when not at their best. "I know this team has much more than what we showed today. But when you play elite clubs, your job is to win the game," Bompastor said. "That's the most important thing. You have to find a way to win. I would like both – I would be the happiest person. But if it's not possible, I would choose to win," she emphasized, prioritizing results over performance.
The next three games could define both clubs' seasons. Manchester City are out of the Women's Super League title race but must secure a top-three finish to ensure Champions League football next season and must go all out in their two-legged quarter-final against Chelsea. Bompastor's side remains in contention for a quadruple and won't want to slip up in any competition, setting the stage for intense and high-stakes encounters.
So, what will happen on Wednesday? "We have to be prepared for anything. We might see changes. You never know what you're going to get," Chelsea captain Millie Bright said. "It's an unusual situation for both teams, I don't think it's ever happened before. They're in the same boat as us. Momentum in football is a massive thing, especially when you play the same opponent four times in a row. Being champions is massive," Bright concluded, underscoring the importance of maintaining a winning mentality.
