Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor was delighted with her side's 3-0 home win over Celtic in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday, extending their 100% start and securing their place in the quarter-finals.
Bompastor's team remains three points above Real Madrid at the top of Group B and can now no longer be overtaken by third-placed Twente.
“I told the players tonight before the match that it was an opportunity for us to qualify for the quarter-finals and we did that,” she told the club's official website after the match.
The result comes after a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the WSL last weekend, which also puts them top of the table with seven wins from seven.
“We also remain at the top of the table, and that is something we certainly want to achieve. It is great news that we have been able to rotate the squad and give some players the opportunity to play another Champions League match.”
“We can reassure some players when they think about the match against Manchester United [on Sunday].”
On to the knockouts! #UWCL pic.twitter.com/Pu3nzXgpi6
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 20, 2024
One of the players who entered the field as a result of that rotation was 17-year-old Lola Brown, who made her professional debut after coming off the bench in the 85th minute.
“It is a special week for her individually, but also for the club,” said Bompastor. “I'm very happy for her and for the opportunity she gets to play, especially in a Champions League match.
“She has trained with us and I see her talent, even though she is young. She is very dynamic as a player, very smart and very good with the ball. She will progress and this experience tonight will bring her a lot of joy and a lot to trust.
“As a manager I have worked a lot with the young players, especially when I was at the academy at Lyon, and it is also something special for me when I can give a young player the opportunity to come in and show himself. It's really good and shows that the club is doing a good job with young players.'
Apart from Brown, Bompastor made six changes to Chelsea's starting XI for the match and was pleased with the contribution of the players who came in.
“It's been my mentality from the start of the season. We play so many games and have to make sure everyone is involved. It's also the opportunity for me to show my confidence in the players and the team.”
“It's important because it's not possible for a player to play 90 minutes every three days, especially with a lot of international players playing for their national team and club and traveling all over the world. I think it has to be that way. ” '
Comments