Chelsea Women look ahead: two players to keep an eye on

Melanie Leupolz of Chelsea

German international Melanie Leupolz put pen to paper on the latest contract extension for CFCW, confirming her place in west London until 2026. She may have yet to step on a football pitch for a competitive match since December of 2021 in the Champions League, but her quality as an all-around midfielder and set-piece specialist provides the Blues with a jolt they may not have known they needed going forward.

All eyes are going to be on Leupolz and her fitness when she does find her way back on the pitch. One of the most interesting storylines as the season gets back underway should be how Hayes is going to ease Leupolz back into the first team. Is she going to make an appearance off the bench to start things off, and when will the coaching staff feel she is ready to compete at a high level in the multitude of competitions that CFC stills find itself competing in?

Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert are more than just holding down the fort in the middle of the pitch for Hayes’ side, but there is going to be a time when rest is going to be necessary given CFC is participating in four competitions. Since coming to west London from Bayern Munich in 2020, Leupolz has started in all but three WSL matches that she has featured.

Hayes has always been a fan of Leupolz’s versatility, being able to be deployed in a midfield two or three. During her first season in blue, the German often played alongside Ji So-yun to complete an elite passing duo, and in her final appearance before going on a hiatus for maternity leave, Leupolz played in the middle of a midfield four on the left side of Ingle. CFC fans must watch Leupolz over the next few weeks because she could be one of the keys if fit to bring the Blues over the top against some of the best in the Champions League.