Sprinting into the break: reflecting on Chelsea’s season so far

The season may have begun with one of the biggest upsets women’s football may see this season, but since then, the Blues have taken on many challenges en route to the top of the WSL table, and the top of their Champions League group. From the injuries to Pernille Harder, Fran Kirby, and Jelena Cankovic to the absence of Emma Hayes, Chelsea has demonstrated the drive of this club to continue this sustained success in all competitions.

Erin Cuthbert may have cost CFCW a clean sheet against Manchester United, but she and Lauren James have been exceptional for the Blues in the season’s early stages. After a season where James struggled to stay healthy, she has built a partnership with Sam Kerr that has caused chaos for the opposition’s backlines. Guro Reiten has moved herself into the conversation as one of the best wingers in the WSL. The Norwegian midfielder’s distribution early on has been one of the catalysts to Chelsea’s staggering goal-scoring tallies recently. Reiten has collected seven assists in all competitions so far, making Kerr’s life and Harder’s life even more straightforward with her magical left foot.

Kerr started the season off slow, but after she only mustered up one goal in the first five contests in all competitions, the Australian has netted six goals to go along with two assists in the last four matches for the Blues. Harder has been the definition of consistency since coming back to the starting XI away at Everton, scoring six goals in her past five CFC starts.