Sonia Bompastor discusses her approach to blending Emma Hayes’ legacy at Chelsea with her own vision. Here are the key points from her exclusive interview.
- Bompastor speaks on feeling welcomed at Chelsea and the importance of club values.
- She acknowledges the inevitable comparisons to Emma Hayes and expresses her respect for Hayes’ achievements.
- Her focus on recruitment and developing a balanced squad is highlighted.
- Bompastor’s tactical preferences and her satisfaction with the team’s adaptation are detailed.
- Challenges and progress in both Chelsea and French women’s football are addressed.
Starting in a senior role is always daunting, but succeeding a highly successful manager adds additional pressure. Sonia Bompastor faces this challenge with calm assurance, feeling welcomed and included at Chelsea. She expressed feeling like part of the Chelsea family from the start, which she sees as crucial for her to perform well.
Naturally, there are comparisons to Emma Hayes, who left Chelsea after a highly successful period. Bompastor is grateful for Hayes’ legacy and views the comparisons positively. She respects Hayes’ achievements and is focused on balancing building from Hayes’ legacy while introducing her own vision and philosophy to the club.
Bompastor places significant importance on recruitment, stressing the need for alignment with her philosophy and ensuring a balanced squad. This involves extensive discussions to recruit the right players, balancing experienced players, young talent, and international players to meet the club’s ambitions.
Her tactical approach emphasises possession-based football, controlling the midfield, and creating chances through pass-and-move strategies. She is pleased with how her players are adapting to these new tactics, although she recognises the need for further improvement, particularly in offensive play.
Reflecting on Chelsea’s recent performance against Aston Villa, Bompastor noted a solid but not perfect execution of her vision. She aims for further refinement in both defensive and offensive aspects to ensure Chelsea continues to improve and achieve positive results.
Injury updates on key players like Niamh and Sophie indicate positive mental and physical recoveries. Despite the challenges of maintaining fitness and performance across a busy schedule, Bompastor is optimistic about their progress.
Bompastor also commented on the broader context of women’s football, noting the exponential growth of the WSL and contrasting it with the slower progress in France. She highlighted the ongoing efforts in France to professionalise the league and improve facilities, aiming to catch up with more competitive leagues like those in England and the US.
Sonia Bompastor is effectively navigating the balance between Emma Hayes’ legacy and her own vision at Chelsea, with a clear focus on development and progress.
