Bompastor keen to build on Chelsea's winning mentality

Sonia Bompastor has urged Chelsea to keep their "winning mentality" as they look to continue their domestic dominance in the new Women's Super League campaign.

Chelsea won a domestic treble last season, going unbeaten across the WSL and setting a new record points total in the process (60, two better than their tally of 58 from 2022-23).

And Bompastor became just the second manager to lift the WSL trophy in her first season, winning 86% of her matches – she boasts the best win rate in the competition's history.

Chelsea have won each of the last six WSL titles and are predicted to top the table again by the Opta supercomputer, with Chelsea winning 72.3% of the pre-season simulations.

That lines up with Bompastor's vision as she is determined to be in the fight for the trophy once again, beginning with Manchester City on Friday in the WSL curtain raiser at Stamford Bridge. 

"We want to perform, but we also want to keep the same mentality," Bompastor told Sky Sports.

"The mentality is really special in this club. We have this winning mentality, and that is what made the difference last season between us and the other clubs.

"I want to make sure we carry on from that and that we are in a better place. It won't be easy, and I know that.

"When you come in as a new manager into your first season in a new league, everything is new. People are probably not expecting you to do too well and perform in the job as I did, and as we did in the team and the club, but now it is not a surprise anymore.

"Everyone wants to fight and compete against Chelsea, and we need to be ready mentally and physically, and tactically and technically to compete."

Chelsea will, however, be without Mayra Ramirez, Lucy Bronze, and Lauren James for Friday's clash, with the former undergoing hamstring surgery, while the latter pair will miss "weeks" of the season due to injuries they suffered at Euro 2025.

Manchester City, meanwhile, will be hoping to put up more of a fight in the title race this season by bouncing back from their disappointment in 2024-25.

Andree Jeglertz is preparing for his first game in the dugout, becoming the third Swedish manager to take charge of a WSL game, with the previous two (Jonas Eidevall and Robert Vilahamn) also starting against Chelsea.

They do not have the best record against Chelsea, only winning one of their five meetings with the Blues in all competitions last season (L4), with their sole win coming in the Champions League quarter-finals via a 2-0 first-leg victory. 

And Jeglertz noted that City are in their development phase so early in his tenure, but sees the game at Stamford Bridge as a good opportunity for his team to undertake an early-season litmus test. 

"It [facing Chelsea] is the biggest opportunity because also coming to face the team that's been winning the league for some years," he said.

"It's a good hint of where we are. We think that we're ready and going in and playing that game. For me, it's just a great opportunity to see what level we're at right now.

"It gives me guidance, and the players, this is where we are and where we need to improve.

"We're well-prepared and definitely ready for Friday. But at the same time, I know it's a lot of players coming in later, so we're still building a bit."