It says a lot about the quality and winning mentality in this Chelsea squad that just moments after winning the Women’s Super League title for a sixth consecutive time, Lucy Bronze was stressing there is still much more to come from this Blues team as we look to finish the domestic campaign unbeaten, win the treble and become even better next season.
Bronze is a serial winner. With nine league titles to her name across three countries, as well as five Champions League winner’s medals on the mantlepiece, the England legend knows what it takes to be successful.
And she isn’t alone. Head coach Sonia Bompastor is cut from the same cloth and the Chelsea squad is full of players who have become accustomed to standing on the podium come the end of the season.
So it probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise to hear Bronze was not content with just winning the WSL title following our 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Wednesday night. There is unfinished business.
The full-back said: ‘The fortunate thing this season is we have been unbeaten so we have always had the two things we are going for. We knew before the game Arsenal had got beaten so we knew what we needed to do to win the title but we also want to go unbeaten.
‘So although we have won the league tonight, we want to win our final two games and go unbeaten this season.’
Chelsea have only lost three matches since Bompastor took charge – our two Champions League semi-final defeats to reigning champions Barcelona and a quarter-final loss to Manchester City, which was overturned in the second leg.
But with the League Cup already in the bank, an FA Cup final against United still to come on Sunday 18 May and zero losses in the WSL, Chelsea are unbeaten domestically.
Yet Bronze expects the Blues to get even better next season following more time under the guidance of Bompastor.
The defender said: ‘We have had an up and down season, even if the results haven’t shown that. It is difficult to come in [as a new head coach], we have had so many signings who are starting games and you are trying to develop something – we are not trying to take away from the legacy Chelsea has always had [but] I think next season we can push on and improve a lot more.
‘We have not been at our best during the second half of the season. Sonia has done well so far but I think she wants a lot more and I think we can give it.’
Chelsea were cheered on as always by our loyal fans, who had committed to making the long trip to Leigh Sports Village in the North West on a Wednesday night even before they knew Aston Villa were going to beat Arsenal 5-2 and the chance to win the WSL trophy would come tonight.
And Bronze rightly paid tribute to the Blues fans following our title win and hopes tens of thousands of them are able to join in the celebrations back at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 10 May when our WSL season concludes against Liverpool.
Bronze said: ‘It has been amazing to see all the fans up here and that is the nice thing: we go to Tottenham at the weekend and then we get to finish the WSL season at Stamford Bridge and all the Chelsea fans can come down and celebrate us winning the trophy.’
You can book your place at Stamford Bridge by clicking here, with tickets starting at £15 for adults and just £7.50 for concessions.