Chelsea Women Thread

[Vesper 30,219]

9 minutes added on

 

wtf

[Fulham Broadway 17,332]

Barca havent lost there this season and have averaged 4 goals each CL game - look like mugs now

[Vesper 30,219]

what a miss by Barca at the death, eeeeek

 

great clean sheet win

Edited April 20, 2024 by Vesper

[Vesper 30,219]

4 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Barca havent lost there this season and have averaged 4 goals each CL game - look like mugs now

Lyon likely awaits in the final (if the beat PSG who are ranked 3rd)

if we win it all we beat the two best teams over the past decade

[Fulham Broadway 17,332]

11 minutes ago, Vesper said:

what a miss by Barca at the death, eeeeek

 

great clean sheet win

Barca without one attempt on target 👍

[Strike 7,492]

Pretty cool. Huge upset. Need to finish the job next week

[Strike 7,492]

DP

Edited April 20, 2024 by Strike

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

Who here plans to go to the game next Saturday? The girls can do with all the support they can get. 🙂

 

[Vesper 30,219]

How Chelsea stunned Barcelona: ‘We got the shape and execution absolutely bang on’

https://theathletic.com/5431393/2024/04/21/Chelsea-barcelona-champions-league-cuthbert/

“My dressing room believes a lot more in our ability after these two games,” said Chelsea manager Emma Hayes after her side lost 2-1 on aggregate to Barcelona in last season’s Champions League semi-final. “They believe (Barcelona) are beatable.”

One year on and Chelsea have turned belief into reality.

They knew they needed to take a scoreline back to Stamford Bridge that kept the tie alive. An away first leg was Hayes’ preference, but they had to make it count. And they did, recording their first win against reigning champions Barcelona, a side who have not lost at home in more than five years.

Starting games off well is always a key factor for Chelsea and in the vast amphitheatre of Barcelona’s Olympic Lluis Companys Stadium, their defensive efforts were Herculean. Barcelona failed to register a single shot on target in the first half and went into half-time behind for only the second time this season. Chelsea grew into the game, too, becoming more aggressive and winning more individual duels (53.7 per cent to Barcelona’s 46.3).

Hayes’ decision to play a back five with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Ashley Lawrence at right and left full-back allowed Chelsea to have a very effective low block out of possession and a high press. Lawrence and Kaneryd had a licence to push up on the wings but defended astutely, while player of the match Jess Carter timed her sliding challenges perfectly to nullify the usually electric Salma Paralluelo.

Hayes was more animated than normal on the sideline, clapping every ball won and urging her players to keep fighting.

Given how Barcelona dominate possession, the temptation is to chase the ball, but in the first half, Hayes’ side were disciplined, maintained their shape well and denied Barcelona space. It was a marked improvement from last year’s semi-final.

“We were more disciplined this year,” said captain Erin Cuthbert. “We weren’t chasing spaces. As a midfielder, you can have somebody in front of you, to the side, left (or) right, but I wasn’t drawn out of position. We weren’t drawn out of areas that we didn’t want to be in because I know they want to exploit the spaces we then leave.”

The Chelsea midfield trio of Cuthbert, Sjoeke Nusken and Melanie Leupolz remained compact. In Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh’s words, they were “intense” and “made it really difficult in midfield”. Cuthbert, much admired by Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giraldez, said she felt “comfortable” playing in the 5-3-2 and being so disciplined, which is quite a statement when Barcelona’s style of play usually suffocates you.

“Even if I made a mistake, I jumped out or I didn’t quite get to the ball, I knew my team-mate was behind me,” Cuthbert said. “It didn’t matter if anybody made a mistake today. We all backed each other up and were comfortable in the spaces. We got the shape and execution absolutely bang on.”

For all of Chelsea’s discipline, however, they knew they had to be clinical in front of goal. “Emma wants discipline, but sometimes you just have to take a chance if you see it,” said Cuthbert.

Cuthbert and Nusken combined for the only goal of the game in the 40th minute, but it started with Chelsea’s aggressive press. They penned Barcelona in, pressing them deep onto their own byline. Lawrence intercepted the ball and played it to Cuthbert, who made a first-time pass to Nusken. Last summer’s signing just managed to control the ball, spun out of trouble and squared it to Cuthbert.

“I’ve made the one-two with Sjoeke, it’s kind of my signature, I like to go again after the ball,” said the Scotland international, who listened to a congratulatory voice note from national team-mate Lisa Evans before speaking to reporters. “Sjoeke picked me out really well. I was going to take it early but I think (Ingrid) Engen blocked it really well. So I took the extra touch, I just created that half-yard and I’m delighted it went in.”

Barcelona’s chance came, however, in the 53rd minute when referee Stephanie Frappart pointed to the penalty spot after Kadeisha Buchanan handled the ball, but the video assistant referee (VAR) overturned the on-field decision as Paralluelo was offside in the build-up.

“The penalty incident really gave us a lot of energy,” said Cuthbert. “That can go one or two ways. It can then be an onslaught, but at that moment we stepped up, we looked each other in the eye and said, ‘We can do this. This is our game for the taking’.”

Chelsea disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm and used Mayra Ramirez as an outlet on the counter. Her physicality and pace rattled a Barcelona defence that does not like defending one-on-one. Having done all the hard work, muscling off Barcelona captain Patri Guijarro, Ramirez should have scored Chelsea’s second in the 75th minute but fired wide. Hayes put her head in her hands.

As Chelsea drew fouls and ran down the clock, the 36,428 Barcelona fans shouted “Fora!” in Catalan, a mark of disapproval. The piercing whistles grew ever louder as Chelsea eked out the seconds of additional time. Those could have turned to cheers in the 99th minute had Alexia Putellas, who was unmarked, converted from close range, but she missed the target. Much to Barcelona’s frustration, Chelsea managed the game to a tee.

“I’m not a fan of playing with these interruptions,” said Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati. “But we knew it, we talked about Chelsea playing like this, playing ugly. We have to learn to play like this, too.”

All attention now turns to the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Saturday. Chelsea have gained a huge psychological boost by defeating Barcelona, but “nobody should get carried away” said Hayes, who was disappointed her side did not get a second goal.

With only a 1-0 lead, it is still all for the taking.

After the game, Barcelona’s vociferous fans chanted: “Si, se puede” (“Yes, we can”). “If anybody can turn it around, it is this team,” said Walsh.

“It is only halfway,” said Cuthbert. “Barca are going to come for us.”

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

The girls need all the support they can get. Sadly I won't be there but I hope a few of you can be.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,077]

Highlights of the first leg.

 

[Fulham Broadway 17,332]

2nd leg this afters 1730 on Youtube and TNT Sports

[Fulham Broadway 17,332]

Bollox they've equalised

40 000 at the Bridge 👍

[xPetrCechx 13,573]

Got the looseres attitude from the man's team.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

And now also the WSL title is gone. What a tragic season for the club. Clownlake loser mentality has finally carried over to the women’s team - 2 finals lost and also 2nd place finish in the league 

[KEVINAA 129]

 

Edited May 4, 2024 by KEVINAA

[Vesper 30,219]

5 hours ago, KEVINAA said:

 

Official: Fran Kirby to leave Chelsea at the end of the season

Farewell, Legend

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/Chelsea-fc-women/2024/5/4/24148840/official-fran-kirby-to-leave-Chelsea-at-the-end-of-the-season

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Sad but understandable. Can totally see the women’s team unravelling next season as well albeit not as rapidly as the men’s team. Luckily clownlake don’t give a f about the women’s team so they don’t dump 10 overrated 19 yo on them every window.   

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Surprised this has been so quiet when the last few weeks have been one of the most dramatic title race twists in WSL history. After losing at Anfield and conceding the title being 3 points and several goals on GD behind City, our girls went on to win 8-0 while City conceded a last minute goal to lose vs Arsenal regaining the advantage. Before today both teams sat equal on points with us having the superior GD and more scored but the way harder final match at OT. So it basically came down to a shoot out today. Luckily our women are hammering ManUre currently. Scoring with almost every shot. An admirable display of winners' mentality and something they can teach the men all about. There are good days and bad days but using the chances you get when it really matters is ultimately what distinguishes champions from would-bes.

[bluesman2610 1,417]

10 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Surprised this has been so quiet when the last few weeks have been one of the most dramatic title race twists in WSL history. After losing at Anfield and conceding the title being 3 points and several goals on GD behind City, our girls went on to win 8-0 while City conceded a last minute goal to lose vs Arsenal regaining the advantage. Before today both teams sat equal on points with us having the superior GD and more scored but the way harder final match at OT. So it basically came down to a shoot out today. Luckily our women are hammering ManUre currently. Scoring with almost every shot. An admirable display of winners' mentality and something they can teach the men all about. There are good days and bad days but using the chances you get when it really matters is ultimately what distinguishes champions from would-bes.

The league is wrapped up for them currently up 5-0 start of second half. Sad to see Emma Hayes go she has been brilliant for Chelsea Football Club