Chelsea: Previewing the FA Women’s Community Shield

Chelsea takes on Manchester City in the season-starting fixture and the first chance at silverware, what does the FA Women’s Community Shield have in store?

The new football season is almost upon us and the Chelsea FC Women take to the Wembley stage to kick it off. There are new signings to integrate and one player looking to return to the action.

Chelsea will take part in the first Women’s Community Shield game to be played at Wembley Stadium this Saturday; the match is also the first of its kind since the trophy game was suspended in 2008. The game, against Manchester City, pits two of the Women’s Super League’s biggest rivals against one another. It’s one both will be keen to win for aforementioned reasons in addition to the fact it will be the first win for either club in this match.

In another first, the match takes place ahead of the men’s shield in a doubleheader that will see both season curtain-raisers played before an empty stadium.

The Blues’ last competitive game was back in February when they defeated Arsenal in the final of the Continental Cup, so-called because of the sponsor rather than the opposition. Essentially, it’s the League Cup. Beth England scored the goal that secured the victory. The arrival of COVID-19 a short time after saw women’s football postponed indefinitely and as far as the 2019-20 season is concerned, it never returned.

Once it was agreed no further games could take place, Emma Hayes’ side—who had played a game less than their north-west rivals—sat in second spot, they averaged 2.6 points per game. City, leading the pack at the time, averaged 2.5. As a result, Chelsea was awarded the league title. With the 2019/20 FA Cup competition yet to be completed, City takes the winner’s place in the final as the League runners-up. With that in mind, the Citizens manager Gareth Taylor’s pre-match team talk is all but done.

From a Chelsea standpoint and speaking ahead of the game, Hayes can’t wait to get started:

"‘First of all, it’s nice to play Man City for the first time at Wembley. We’ve missed each other as we’ve had a lot of semi-final appearances against each other, or one or both of us have not made the final at the same time. It’s nice to finally play them there. It’s a fantastic way to open the season domestically on the biggest stage with the top two teams in England in terms of the placings they finished in last season.’"

Whilst Frank Lampard is busy assessing his new signings, Hayes has new players to integrate as well. Niamh Charles has joined from Liverpool, who was relegated from the league following its conclusion and Jessie Fleming—the Canadian international—who joins from the US collegiate league system. Alongside those two, Melanie Leupolz has joined from German giants Bayern Munich.

For the first time in quite a while, Hayes has a fully fit squad to chose from. Most notable by her absence recently, Fran Kirby is expected to return to the match day squad and competitive football. The England international has been missing from the team through illness for around nine months. As far as her manager is concerned, it will be a massive boost to get Kirby back in the team:

"‘Fran is in a really good place. Her performances throughout pre-season have been exactly what I’ve come to expect from her. Her troubles were well known last year but Fran is in a fantastic place and I look forward to bringing her back into the team environment. It feels like a new signing and I’m excited not just the Chelsea fans but the Lionesses as well because Fran is one of the best players in the world and we’re delighted she’s back with us.’"

We live in such strange times right now, but to get football back at least allows us to believe some kind of normality is possible. Chelsea versus Manchester City is as good as it gets on a football pitch and there is no better way to launch the 2020/21 campaign. Wembley may well be devoid of spectators, but nonetheless, this must be the start of a season ends with a crescendo of cheers rather than one lost in viral fears. Welcome back, football.

What are your predictions for the FA Women’s Community Shield? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!