With the Chelsea Women first-team landing in Portugal for a long awaited pre-season training program, the reality of the new campaign has begun to set in. 28 Blues took a flight over to a warmer climate in preparation for the long road ahead. Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, and Jess Carter, three faces that have been missing from the club’s social media recently are back after a well-deserved vacation on the back of the World Cup.
It is not only the time for Emma Hayes to configure the correct formation for this group, but an opportunity for the new players to create bonds on and off the field with the west London veterans. Given the performances in the back line, it is likely the back-three that was thrown out against Roma does not return against Spurs on October 1.
The list of Chelsea players traveling and the friendly this past week at Kingsmeadow has created a whole lot of queries that needed answering. Here are three major questions that the club will need to figure out before the opening whistle at Stamford Bridge.
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) September 6, 2023
3 Chelsea Women questions in the midst of pre-season training
3. What are the west Londoners going to do with Katerina Svitkova?
Out of all these unknowns, this is probably the strangest. Czech Republic international Katerina Svitkova was the only first team player on the list for pre-season training not included. The midfielder signed from West Ham United last summer, playing in just three Women’s Super League contests mostly due to her inability to stay on the field.
The 27-year-old looked to be on track with her rehab, competing for her country more than once this summer in friendly contests. It begs the question, what is her future in blue? On September 5, the day the team touched down in the home of A Selecao das Quinas, Svitkova posted a story on Instagram of her out golfing with her former West Ham teammate and new Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker.
Her future is up in the air, not only because of this, but due to the depth at midfield within the squad. A loan doesn’t make much sense for a player at 27, making it quite likely her chapter in west London may be over after just one campaign. It is difficult, especially in this case not to come to conclusions. Svitkova is a phenomenal player, and someone that has a contagious personality off the pitch, but sometimes it just does not work out.
2. Who is going to serve as the club’s third goalkeeper?
For some interesting reason, Hayes opted to take all four goalkeepers on the roster to pre-season training rather than sending one out on loan before. Considering the adjustment period it takes when entering a new club, it would make a lot of sense to get this decision out of the way sooner rather than later. Hannah Hampton was rumored to be linked with Brighton and Hove Albion on loan for the next campaign, but it has been all silent from that front over the last few weeks.
The No. 1 and No. 2 positions on the team seem locked in. Ann-Katrin Berger should begin the season as the starter with the standout from the World Cup Zecira Musovic pushing her the whole way for that top spot. Belgian shot stopper Nicky Evrard is probably the most likely candidate to stick around as the No. 3 due to her age.
Hampton, at just 22 years old would make use of another full campaign between the sticks at a WSL club or even somewhere in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. It is confusing why nothing has happened with less than a month before the season, but at some point a resolution needs to be made.
1. What kind of role will Aggie Beever-Jones have after impressing vs. AS Roma?
It only took 26 minutes. The English youngster looks to be prepared for some kind of role at her parent club. No more loans. If Aggie Beever-Jones were to go anywhere in the coming weeks, it would have to be on a permanent.
The only question has to be, what kind of role will she have in west London. Will it be as a No. 9? Could she play as a wing back, or even a No. 10 in the middle of the park? Those are all possibilities. It is mostly likely going to be a combination of all those. Mia Fishel will serve as the club’s No. 2 behind Kerr up top, leaving room for a potential rotational spot on a flank. A lot of it is going to depend on injuries, and if a void is open, there is nobody more prepared to walk through it than the 20-year-old.
Against Champions League opposition, granted it was pre-season, Beever-Jones looked incredibly comfortable. Not only did she net the winner via an Eve Perisset cross, the youngster was not hesitant to make runs with or without the ball. There was clearly growth having been in the English top-flight for a full season. This may not be something that is going to be decided prior to kick-off, but it is a topic to ponder in the coming months.
Emma Hayes and company take on Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on October 1, 2023, tickets are still available for the match via the club’s website.