For Chelsea Women, everything feels brand new – a new era with a new manager to a new backroom staff and new young players.
Fans are optimistic after pre-season but only time will tell if that continues into the WSL season and other competitions.
Life after Emma Hayes begins at home against Aston Villa tonight and the person trying to replace the Blues legend is Sonia Bompastor.
Bompastor is the only woman to have won the Champions League as both a player and a manager, which is crucial for Chelsea as that trophy has alluded them thus far.
She is also a serial league and cup winner in France.
However, the test is to learn the English league and game, which is a whole different challenge.
The 44-year-old was always the front-runner for this role with three years of experience managing a top team in Lyon.
Speaking about her appointment Paul Green, the Chelsea Women general manager, was impressed with her mentality and philosophy, which made her an outstanding candidate for the role.
Blues forward Aggie Beever-Jones agrees.
She said: “Her history of what she’s won speaks for itself.”
The support does not stop there and Chelsea Pride community chairman Tracy Brown is also optimistic.
She said: “Going into the new season, there’s a real sense that the squad is in great hands under her leadership.”
Fan Steve Allen, part of the Chelsea women’s supporter group, said Bompastor is making this team her own with a better-balanced squad.
With five consecutive WSL title wins in a row under Hayes, Chelsea fans are entering unknown territory after the end of her highly-successful 12-year reign ended in May.
Brown added: “It’s an exciting time for Chelsea Women, especially with the fresh energy brought by all our new players and management.”
From the looks of the pre-season, especially the 1-0 win against Arsenal in the USA tour, it could suggest that the serial winning mentality is still strong.
Millie Bright said: “We’ve done some real hard work, but the sessions have been enjoyable.”
With Sam Kerr missing several months due to an injury ACL, there were questions about where the goals could come from as she fights back to fitness. Blues supporters would have had their fears alleviated in pre-season when there were seven different goal scorers in just three games.
Only time will tell but this evening’s game against Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow, live on the BBC, could provide some telling clues about how the season could unfold.
Image: Adrian Brown on Flikr – free to use with credit
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