Sonia Bompastor expects to see a positive reaction from her Chelsea side when we take on Manchester United tomorrow as the head coach sets her sights on securing a domestic treble in her first season in charge.
The Blues travel north knowing if results go our way we can secure the Women’s Super League title for the sixth year in a row as early as Wednesday night.
Our nearest competitors Arsenal are away to Aston Villa (6pm kick-off) before our game against Man United (8.15pm KO) and if the Gunners fail to win, then victory for Chelsea will see us lift the title once more, with our lead at the top currently six points and only three games remaining.
Bompastor has no concern we will suffer a hangover from Sunday’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona. Instead, she expects that bump in the road to narrow her players’ focus with so much still up for grabs in the coming weeks.
‘The best teams bounce back,’ Bompastor said.
‘The fact it’s another competition, and our position in the league now – six points ahead with three games left – means if we can win on Wednesday, it will be a big step for the title. This motivation is big enough for us to be focused on Wednesday night.
‘I’m still really confident going into the game. It will be difficult to go to Man United. They are having a really good season. But I know we have the quality in the squad, and the players and the staff will be all together to turn things around and be ready to compete on Wednesday.’
Bompastor’s maiden campaign in England is drawing to a close, giving her a chance to reflect on what she and the team have achieved so far this season. It has been a phenomenal effort, with the League Cup already secured and an FA Cup final against United still to come later this month, but like all those accustomed to winning, Bompastor still wants more.
She said: ‘I came to Chelsea with a lot of ambition. I wanted to convert my competitiveness into titles. That is what makes me the happiest. If we win titles then a part of my job is done, and I will be really proud.
‘But again, I want to talk about my players, because they are the ones on the pitch, the ones making me look good when it’s positive. I need them on the pitch on Wednesday and until the end of the season to do the best they can do for us to be successful.
‘We had an ambition to get the quadruple. It didn’t happen. Now we have to move forward and focus on the treble. Hopefully we have that at the end of the season.’