England midfielder Keira Walsh described her January 2025 move to Chelsea as "the worst feeling," comparing it to being "the new kid at school." Despite her illustrious career—two Champions League titles in Spain, three Liga F championships, and Euro 2022 and 2025 wins with England—Walsh highlighted the abrupt transition: "You don’t have pre-season to adapt. No grace period." Chelsea’s WSL campaign faces pressure after a six-title streak ends, but Walsh remains optimistic: "Winning the EFL Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League would still make this season special."

Chelsea’s roster includes Alyssa Thompson, a 21-year-old USA forward who echoed Walsh’s anxieties: "I had low expectations, scared people wouldn’t like me." Yet Thompson has thrived, scoring six WSL goals and embodying the club’s "winning DNA." Despite Chelsea’s record 15 wins and 1 loss against Manchester United, results have dipped amid high expectations. Bompastor’s side enters Sunday’s clash with United as FA Cup final favorites, having eliminated them in last season’s extra-time thriller.

The Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal and ongoing FA Cup run add stakes, but Walsh emphasized cultural resilience: "It’s unspoken in the locker room—we know what the jersey demands." Thompson, named SheBelieves Cup tournament MVP, shares this drive: "Winning at Chelsea is written in our DNA."

Chelsea’s £1.5m record transfer for Naomi Girma underscores ambition, yet integration challenges persist. For Walsh and Thompson, Sunday’s match against United represents a chance to reaffirm Chelsea’s dominance and silence critics about the team’s recent form.