Chelsea restore resilience - are they title contenders again?

Sonia Bompastor led Chelsea to an unbeaten domestic treble in her first season, but they lost their WSL crown to Manchester City in 2025-26. Early signs this campaign suggest a resurgence, though doubts remain.

Chelsea started the season with a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, showing dominance but lacking ruthlessness. Since then, they've won three consecutive matches, including a strong display against Arsenal, who sit seven points behind City in seventh.

Bompastor emphasized mental resilience and tactical adjustments. A third clean sheet in a row — extending to 315 minutes without conceding — highlighted defensive improvements. Keira Walsh stood out, assisting Alyssa Thompson's winner, while new signings like Melvine Malard and Lexi Potter have strengthened the squad.

The victory over Arsenal could be a catalyst for Chelsea to challenge Manchester City, who face Arsenal next. Walsh praised the team's unity and fighting spirit, noting they're "a different team from last season."

Sonia Bompastor执教切尔西的首个赛季便率队夺得国内三冠王，但在2025-26赛季，他们将WSL冠军头衔拱手让给了曼城。然而，本赛季初期的迹象表明，球队正在强势复苏，尽管仍有质疑声存在。

切尔西在斯坦福桥球场与阿斯顿维拉战成1-1平，开局阶段展现了统治力但缺乏杀伤力。此后，他们连续赢得三场比赛，包括对阵阿森纳的强势表现，后者目前落后曼城7分，排名第七。

Bompastor强调了心理韧性与战术调整的重要性。连续第三场零封对手——将不丢球纪录延长至315分钟——凸显了防守端的提升。Keira Walsh表现突出，助攻Alyssa Thompson打入制胜球，而新援如Melvine Malard和Lexi Potter也增强了球队阵容。

战胜阿森纳可能成为切尔西挑战曼城的催化剂，后者将与阿森纳进行下一轮对决。Walsh赞扬了球队的团结与战斗精神，指出他们“与上赛季相比已是完全不同的球队”。