Sonia Bompastor previews in-form Spurs with hopes to preserve Blues’ unbeaten streak and legacy
The title holders face Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclays Women’s Super League this Sunday. Head coach, Sonia Bompastor addressed the media ahead of this must-win London derby.
The Blues head into the match top of the WSL table. However, they only secured a 2–2 draw against FC Twente in the UEFA Women’s Champions League during the week.
World Mental Health Day
On World Mental Health Day, Bompastor spoke on this subject and the obligation for support mechanisms of both mental and physical wellbeing within the club:
“Mental health is crucial, not just in football but in life. As a manager, I want players to feel supported both physically and mentally.”
For the Blues, the environment welcomes talk of mental health and is a safe space where each individual should feel supported and able to express themselves freely:
“At Chelsea, the door is always open for them to express how they feel. We’re a family here and creating that safe environment is essential for success on and off the pitch.”
Team news
Since the start of their 2025/26 campaign, several key members of Bompastor’s squad have been sidelined with injury. However, the head coach provided a positive update from Cobham Way, with two Lionesses stars available for selection:
“Lucy Bronze and Niamh Charles will both be available and in the squad for Sunday. Lucy brings great energy and mentality — she’s incredibly tough, and it’s fantastic to have that kind of figure back in the group.”
However, others are still recovering from setbacks and will be unavailable to face Spurs in the London derby:
“Naomi Girma and Lauren James are still recovering and will need a few more weeks. We expect them to return after the international break.”
On the back of a contract extension until 2027, German international, Sjoeke Nüsken will be in the squad, despite being substituted with a potential head injury against FC Twente midweek:
“Sjoeke Nüsken is fine after a minor head injury and will also be available.”
Reflecting upon FC Twente
The Blues will be disappointed by kickstarting their Champions League campaign with a draw, especially as a win was expected. The head coach reminded of the importance of learning from tough results and staying grounded within such a competitive competition:
“Sometimes when you keep winning, it’s easy to forget how rare that is in football. We reflected on the Twente game this morning — it’s important to learn from it before the international break… The competition is getting tougher every year. We dominated the game, but we need to show more desire in the box and take our chances.”
As a collective, Chelsea will regroup and address their performance against the Dutch side:
“Reflection is part of growth — we always want to win, but the key is to learn and move forward.”
Despite criticism of Chelsea, dropping points where expectations set them as winners, the head coach made it clear that she does not listen to the negative press. Instead, she focuses upon the work ethic from both the players and staff:
“I don’t pay attention to negativity. As Chelsea manager, expectations are high — we all want to win every game, and I expect that from myself and my players… The focus is always on working hard, staying positive, and keeping the team aligned on what’s truly important.”
On squad rotation and maintaining cohesion
Bompastor’s Chelsea are currently involved in all four competitions in domestic and European football: the WSL, the Subway Women’s League Cup, the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, and the Champions League.
With a heavy schedule, the head coach expressed the importance of squad rotation to build a competitive and successful environment both on and off the pitch:
“With three games a week, rotation is essential. The competition within our squad is very high, so it’s important to give opportunities to everyone.”
Sixteen-year-old, Chloe Sarwie made her debut in the Champions League on Wednesday night. At such a young age, Bompastor trusted the academy graduate to integrate into the first team and make her first appearance in the most prestigious of competitions.
When asked, she spoke about exposure to top-level football being pivotal to growth and development of the highest order:
“Even if Wednesday’s result wasn’t what we wanted, players need chances to prove themselves. The team’s response has been positive — the focus now is on the future and improvement… Giving young players opportunities in major competitions like the Champions League is vital for their development. It’s the best way to grow — to experience top-level football firsthand.”
The competitiveness of the WSL
As the women’s game is growing with better infrastructures and investment in place, the gap between the top sides is closing. However, Bompastor believes this does not affect Chelsea’s ambitions and chances of retaining their title:
“The WSL is the toughest league in the world. The gap between teams is smaller this season, which is great for the game. Every club has improved, but that doesn’t change our ambitions. We start every season from zero, ready to challenge ourselves and compete at the highest level.”
Despite Chelsea’s perfect start in the WSL, with four wins in four, the manager dismissed talk of pressure on her players to perform:
“We won four games, but the focus is always the same – win the next one.”
Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who are in positive form under new head coach, Martin Ho, the Blues must not underestimate their opposition. Bompastor remained upbeat and confident about her team’s preparation and mentality:
“Tottenham are doing very well this season. They’ve always had quality and a strong dynamic, even from last year. We’re not surprised to see them in good form… It will be a tough game, and we know we’ll need to perform at our best level to get the result. Spurs are confident, but we have a lot of quality in our squad too. Our focus is on ourselves — improving individually and collectively to make sure we deliver.”