Women’s super league returned after the break with a top-of-the-league clash that saw Chelsea visiting Arsenal at the Emirates. A stalemate at North London meant Manchester United leapfrogged the blues at the helm based on the goal difference. Arsenal is only three points behind them with a game in hand.
Chelsea has won the league title for the last three years. None of those was straightforward. One of Manchester City or Arsenal was there till the end with the blues in the race.
While CFC won the league title, Manchester United finished fourth all three times. However, it seems finally they have taken the next step to compete with the top three clubs in the country.
Emma Hayes’s side has enough depth and experience to win the title for the fourth consecutive time. The biggest challenge Hayes faced last season was players missing matches due to injuries and issues like covid.
There is also a small matter of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The European Cup is the only major trophy missing from the Chelsea Women’s trophy cabinet. Their journey in the continental competition ended in the group stages last season. As a result, all focus was on the two domestic cup competitions and the league.
Apart from Pernille Harder, she has a relatively healthy squad at the moment. Melanie Leupolz is back as well after her pregnancy break. Losing Bethany England to Tottenham Hotspur is a slight setback. A player of her caliber deserves to play more minutes, especially with the FIFA Women’s world cup coming up. Hayes knows that else she will not have sanctioned the move.
Chelsea has a few players whose contracts will run out when the season ends. Renewing their deals will be vital. Replacements will have to be found for potential exits. So the next couple of months will be important in that regard as well.
Players will be eager to impress and get a run of games. It will help a long way for many of them due to represent their nation in the world cup in July. Managing the squad will still be the biggest challenge for Hayes. But if the recent past is anything to go by, she is one of the best in world football.