3 Chelsea players who shined in imperative victory over Villa

Coming off an incredibly short hiatus, Emma Hayes and the Chelsea Women showed immense resilience in massive WSL triumph over red-hot Aston Villa.

How can you expect anything less from an Emma Hayes led team? In a weekend that was filled with drama on the men’s side, Hayes continued to remind everyone that no matter what happens, she will always be the best manager at the club.

Following the emotions and the physical toll that a miraculous win over Lyon took on this team, the Chelsea Women turned around to take on Aston Villa just three days later. Given how tight the race for the Women’s Super League title is, there is no room to slip up. The defeat to Manchester City minimized the Blues’ margin of error. To kick off two straight matches against Carla Ward’s Aston Villa in the midlands, CFC took care of business in one of the most professional and team-oriented performances of the campaign.

Every player that came on played their part as Hayes was forced to make five changes from the historic Champions League win over the French leaders on Thursday. Without Erin Cuthbert, Millie Bright, and Lauren James among others, the Hayes’ side counter-pressed to perfection. Rachel Daly and the Villains were unable to breakthrough its opposition for the first time in any competition since January 26 in the FA Cup against Arsenal.

After a sensational ball in from Guro Reiten, Sam Kerr finishes a brilliant move to net her 50th career WSL goal in the second half.

Possession was not vital for the Blues at Bescot Stadium on Sunday evening. Hayes’ side was clinical when they needed to be, putting seven of their 14 shots on target. The sheer grit from this team to be able to recover this quickly and come up with a convincing result against arguably the most in-form side in English women’s football right now is why this club has been the leading example of success.

Guided by another masterclass from Guro Reiten on the left wing, and world-class display in the middle of the pitch from the Serbian Jelena Cankovic, the Blues rose back to second in the table behind Manchester United by one point with a game in hand. Three points separate fourth place Manchester City and first-place United. With two clubs in the top-four winning, Hayes’ side responded the way has whenever it encounters any sort of adversity this season, head-on.

The international break provides the club some time to break away from the chaotic chase of three major trophies. Here are three standout players from a display that saw numerous individuals perform at a high-level.

3 Chelsea Women’s players who shined in vital league win on the road.

1. Guro Reiten

At this point, we are running out of words to describe the kind of form the Norwegian midfielder Guro Reiten has been in this season. Her left-foot is one of magic. 25 goals involvements on the season does not even tell the whole story of her impact. Whether it is the balls she is playing into the box, or the ways she find the back of the net, there is almost no game in which the left-winger does not influence the match in some way. The Barclays Player of the Match netted her eighth goal in all competitions this season with a convincing left-footed strike at the top of the box right before halftime. Heading into the dressing room down by a goal is a completely different story than being down by two. Reiten sunk the Villains’ confidence at the perfect time, taking advantage of some poor passing out of the back by the away side.

Reiten was involved in the build up to all three goals on the evening, playing the ball into a dangerous area twice that resulted in a goal on top of firing in her fifth WSL goal so far during this 2022/23 campaign. Many players have a case for Player of the Season right now, but none are stronger than the Norwegian’s.

Whenever Reiten is on the pitch, always keep your head on a swivel because she can often see and execute the pass that few are able to visualize. Time and time again, the Norwegian international shows up when the team needs her the most. From scoring the goal on the road in south east France in the Champions League to the kind of outing on the back of a short break, Reiten is a big-time player that deserves far more recognition around the world than she does at the moment.

2. Magdalena Eriksson

Over the last few weeks, the Blues’ captain Magdalena Eriksson has been criticized for giving away potentially game changing chances to the French league leaders. On the road in the WSL this past Sunday, the captain was immense. Not only was it her leadership in the backline, but after many called her out on “not being up to the task” in the Champions League, Eriksson made a statement on the pitch against Villa.

The Swedish international completed nearly 79 percent of her passes while collecting the most interceptions on the team with four. She led a defense along with Niamh Charles, Jess Carter, and Kadeisha Buchanan who all contributed their own way to the victory on Sunday. Eriksson looked confidence with the ball at her feet through the entire 90 minutes, accumulating her highest pass completion percentage in the WSL since mid-January against the Gunners in north London. Four interceptions in a league contest were tied for the most this season with the 2-0 September win over Manchester City at Kingsmeadow.

This was arguably Eriksson’s best game since the calendar flipped to 2023. With Bright still recovering from her injury she suffered in the first leg against Lyon, these are the kind of displays the Blues need from their leader in the middle of the defense. Not much is known about what is going to happen to the Swede next season, but as a legend in west London, Eriksson is finishing her potentially last campaign with her eyes on assisting in any way to secure as much silverware as possible.

3. Jelena Cankovic

She does not get many opportunities, but when she gets them, she makes the best of it and then some. Other than maybe Reiten, Jelena Cankovic was by far the Blues best player on Sunday evening. Due to the depth in the midfield, the Serbian does not always receive the playing time she deserves. For just the second time in 2023, Cankovic played all 90 minutes in a league match in the midfield.

As an attacking midfielder playing in that No. 10 role, the Serbian pulled all the right strings with her exceptional passing range and vision. In 90 minutes, Cankovic completed nearly 88 percent of her passes including finishing with the highest progressive pass total on the team with an astounding nine. Defensively, she was sound, interrupting Villa’s run of play plenty of times before any sort of momentum was generated. With relentless attitude on and off the ball combined with her ability to see the play before it happens make her a difference maker at that No. 10.

Her awareness on the ball, and ability to pick out passes across the pitch changed the game for the away side. To have someone that can start a game after not being in the team for a while and perform like this is a luxury Hayes is grateful she has. The Serbian looked ready to go from the opening whistle, having not participated a single minute in the Champions League win over Sonia Bompastor’s side on Thursday night.

Cankovic is a player with sky high potential, and in her first season, she is already making herself known as one of the best summer signings of the offseason. Whenever you see the Serbian in the starting XI, it is a treat. It does not occur often, but with a goal and an assist on top of the impact she made in the middle of the park, it is clear, Cankovic has the quality to turn the game in favor of the west London side at any time.