Chelseas WSL Title Bid…

MANCHESTER, England — According to history, a league title can’t be clinched in February, yet Manchester City‘s recent triumph in the Women’s Super League (WSL) has potentially made their crowning this season a mere formality.

No doubt the atmosphere in Etihad Stadium reflected this sentiment when the outstanding Kerolin scored her second goal of the match in a decisive 5-1 victory over the formidable Chelsea, who have dominated the league for the past six seasons. The Brazilian international fell to the ground overwhelmed by joy as her ecstatic teammates surrounded her, while City manager Andrée Jeglertz, usually calm and composed, exuberantly celebrated on the sidelines with his staff.

When Kerolin completed her hat trick just nine minutes after halftime, it became clear that City was delivering a performance that signaled they are champions in the making. With an 11-point lead atop the WSL standings and a 12-point cushion over third-placed Chelsea, City is in a commanding position. This is the furthest Chelsea has found themselves from the top position since the final day of the 2018-19 season, when they finished third behind Arsenal and City. Chelsea had bounced back from that disappointment to secure six consecutive league titles, but their dreams of extending that impressive run have been severely dented after the stunning defeat in East Manchester.

Before the match even started, Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor understood how challenging it would be for her team to re-enter the title race. After last weekend’s loss to Arsenal, she admitted their title defense was “probably over,” and that acknowledgment rang even truer following Kerolin’s deflected half-volley that found the back of Chelsea’s net just 13 minutes into the game.

The visitors responded positively to the early setback, with Keira Walsh and Erin Cuthbert forcing goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita into a series of commendable saves. However, City held their ground and earned their reward when the prolific Khadija “Bunny” Shaw outpowered Naomi Girma, scoring her 14th WSL goal of the season just before halftime.

In the second half, with nothing to lose, Chelsea pushed forward in an attempt to reduce the deficit, only to find themselves quickly down 3-0 as Kerolin elegantly lofted the ball over Hannah Hampton. Just five minutes later, she celebrated again after tapping in from close range, marking her first hat trick for the team.

Kerolin has now contributed to a goal or assist in her last six WSL appearances, showcasing the highest minutes-per-goal involvement rate in the league this season. It was no surprise when she received a standing ovation as she was substituted shortly after the hour mark.

Chelsea did manage to score a consolation goal through a stunning shot from Alyssa Thompson, but their hopes for a comeback were swiftly extinguished when Vivianne Miedema headed in from a corner in the 72nd minute.

This result marked Chelsea’s heaviest defeat in the WSL in over seven years since a 5-0 loss to Arsenal in October 2018. It also represents the first time the Blues have suffered back-to-back league losses since July 2015, with Bompastor facing consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time in her managerial career (181 games).

“After this tough result, it’s hard for me to talk about the title race,” she said in her post-match press conference. “I stated before the match and I still maintain the same perspective; we need to focus on ourselves.”

“This result is challenging, but there are reasons that explain it. The staff and players need to stay united and understand our current situation and what we need to do to get back to where we were last season. A lot can be said, but I prefer to keep some discussions private between the board and players. Our squad is not the same as it was last season.”

“Many view Chelsea as an example regarding squad depth and the variety of player profiles that can make a significant impact when coming on, but I believe we are not in that position right now.”

Bompastor is correct to highlight that Chelsea’s injury challenges have severely impacted them recently, and the club’s advancement to the knockout stages of the UEFA Women’s Champions League has resulted in a heavier workload compared to City, who did not qualify for Europe this season. Nonetheless, this does not diminish the impressive form of Jeglertz’s squad, which appears ready to reclaim WSL glory after a decade-long wait.

“It’s challenging to say, but we displayed great confidence today,” Jeglertz remarked when asked if his team is already close to winning the title. “We managed to win in various ways and we faced a strong Chelsea team today.”

“The media pressure suggests that we’ve won the league, but the team is handling it splendidly … This belief that we can find ways to win is something we can leverage in future matches. We still have several games left in the season, including a significant clash against Arsenal next week, and what we’ve excelled at thus far is focusing on one match at a time. That will remain our priority moving forward.”

Next weekend’s encounter at the Emirates Stadium will present yet another test for the league leaders, especially considering Renee Slegers’ team recently overcame Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Although there are still challenges ahead for City, it increasingly seems like a question of when – not if – they will secure the title this season.