Sonia Bompastor says her Chelsea side are now a ‘part of history’ after lifting the Women’s Super League trophy at Stamford Bridge as unbeaten champions.
No team had ever avoided defeat during a 22-game WSL season. Ninety minutes separated the Blues and that feat heading into today's clash against Liverpool.
The match itself will not live too long in the memory. The visitors to Stamford Bridge defended well, and Bompastor's side were not at their fluid best. However, in second-half stoppage time, Aggie Beever-Jones was put through and fired home to secure another Chelsea win.
Millie Bright and her Blues team-mates were handed the trophy soon after. Bompastor eventually got her hands on the silverware, but spent more time celebrating with her family on the pitch. After an hour, she sat down with the media to reflect on a dominant first campaign as the Blues' head coach.
‘Before the game, we were all on the same page,' she said. 'We wanted to play this last game, with the support of our fans, and make sure we stayed unbeaten in the season.
'When I reflect on the game, the win means a lot because it was tough again, and we managed to score in the last minutes through Aggie. I think that is a good, positive signal for us, and it feels great for sure.
‘I think for the club to win six titles in a row, it means we have been consistent as a club and every year the team has managed to win trophies.
'Maybe the fact that this year we were unbeaten makes it even more special, because it hasn’t happened before [in a 22-game season]. When you reflect on that, we are part of history because we have this unbeaten season and have broken records in terms of points.’
As a coach, Bompastor has celebrated league title triumphs, cup victories, and even a Champions League win. Those feats were achieved at Lyon, where she spent time as a player and as the head of the Academy. She knew the club inside out.
It has been a different story at Chelsea, and it's why she is hugely proud of the success achieved this season.
'This ranks highly in my career,' she said. 'I was at Lyon for 16 years of my life; it felt like home when I was there. It was probably a little easier because you know everyone, have control of everything, and can impact things in the way you want. I could also speak the language!
'I was in my comfort zone. So to be able to achieve this in another country – even if you come to a club with a lot of ambition and a great squad – with the language barrier and with just my two assistant coaches, and also having to learn everything about the country and the club, it was a tough transition.
'But I have enjoyed every moment. Emma (Hayes) left the club in a good place; the legacy was good for me and there were a lot of people on the staff, and a lot of great people in the club and country, who helped us settle well. So, part of the success is also because we felt at home really quickly.
'If I reflect on all these things, it is a big, big achievement.'
Mark our sixth consecutive Women's Super League title win – and our first unbeaten! – by clicking here to buy our commemorative champions t-shirt and CFCW range!