by Maisie McNulty (5/12/23).
Above: Aggie Beever-Jones one of Chelsea’s shining lights this season who will be key to Emma Hayes signing off with more trophies. Photo: Ben Gilby for Impetus.
As expected by many, Chelsea have made a strong start to their 2023/24 campaign in the Super League. Top of the table with 22 points, equalling an average of 2.75 points per game, will Emma Hayes leave Chelsea with a parting gift by leading them to their seventh WSL title under her management?
This analysis of Chelsea’s season thus far looks at the pre-season predictions, prominent players, and the influential management of Emma Hayes to get a more in-depth understanding of the English women’s football champions.
Pre-season predictions
After winning the WSL for the fourth consecutive year, the expectation for Chelsea to keep up their high performance was truly set high. However, in pre-season there was the departure of two influential players Magdalena Eriksson (2017-2023) and Pernille Harder (2020-2023) who transferred for free to Bayern Munich.
Whilst this was seen as a great loss, the transfer window welcomed great players into the Chelsea team such as European champion Hannah Hampton, 2020 Olympic football winner Ashley Lawrence, Germany midfielder Sjoeke Nusken, and USWNT players Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel.
During the six games played so far, there was only one game where Chelsea was pushed – game week two at Manchester City away where 11 cards were issued (three of which were for Chelsea) and the Blues bagged a last-minute goal from Guro Reiten to climb out of a near loss. Although they have had a strong start to the season, the defending champions are yet to face some of the strongest competition such as Arsenal and Manchester United.
Chelsea are the only English team who are competing in the Champions League after Man United and Arsenal didn’t manage to make it out of the qualifying rounds. Therefore they are more likely to have more games in between WSL games and therefore less rest and recovery.
No matter how Chelsea has played so far, their ability to control and maintain their strong form will be what counts most.
Management
Since 2012, Emma Hayes has been a part of Chelsea and fans are unable to picture the club without her.
The first two seasons that Hayes had with the club were not the best, but with every journey, there has to be a starting point. In the 2014 season, Chelsea missed out on the WSL title on the final day by a close margin. After the heartbreak, Hayes began to make major changes such as welcoming the arrival of several players such as current captain Millie Bright, and paying a then British fee record for Fran Kirby from Reading.
Hayes went on that season to guide Chelsea to a history-making league and cup double as well as reaching the last 16 in the Champions League. From here things took off and Hayes has subsequently won the WSL title six times, the FA Cup five times, the Conti Cup twice and the FA Community Shield once.
However with this now being confirmed as Hayes’ last season there is extra pressure on to win the trophy that the club have always failed to capture – The Champions League. In the previous year, the Blues boss guided her team all the way to the semi-finals where they were beaten by the current champions, Barcelona.
Players to watch
Alongside award-winning forwards Sam Kerr and Lauren James, there are many more influential players this season such as Aggie Beever-Jones. Just 20 years of age, Beever-Jones grew up within the Chelsea academy. The youngster debuted in a 4-0 win against Aston Villa in January 2021 and in April 2021 had her first start for Chelsea in the FA Cup. She has spent the last two seasons on loan at Bristol City and Everton respectively. This season, Beever-Jones has truly become a player to look out for.
Jess Carter has progressed each season since arriving. There was no doubt about it that in the 2022/23 season, Carter showed everyone the talent and skills she had. There have been quite a few notable defensive pieces of work, for example in the season opener against Tottenham Hotspur.
Champions League
Although it may have been fairly smooth sailing in the Women’s Super League, Chelsea’s major challenge of trying to send Hayes off with a maiden Champions League trophy hasn’t gone entirely to plan.
The Blues’ first game was away to Real Madrid where two Matildas sensations, Sam Kerr and Hayley Raso went head to head. After a controversial 95 minutes and a thrilling game, the score ended up 2-2 with goals from Niamh Charles (41′) and Kerr (74′). A potential match-winner from Charles was disallowed.
Hayes commented after the game saying that her side “had been robbed of what should have been a 3-1 game”. This frustration came after a penalty was awarded for Real Madrid from a foul that happened outside the box, which Olga Carmona scored from, and a disallowed goal which was said to be offside however photos and videos from the match show that this was not the correct decision.
No matter the frustration this caused the Chelsea side, they took some of it out on Paris FC in the following tie. Although their start to this game may not have been the best, as they finished the first half with a score of 1-1 thanks to Kerr’s strike on the half-hour, they would go on to produce a second-half super show.
Soon into the second half, Kerr showed no mercy by scoring a second goal which soon turned into an impressive hat trick. To top off the night, Sophie Ingle got her first goal of the season in the 91st minute.
Next up in the competition is the current group leader BK Häcken. The Damallsvenskan side have won both of their games so far. This encounter will take place at Stamford Bridge just four days after this weekend’s huge WSL London derby with Arsenal.
Although Chelsea started powerfully, they still have many challenges ahead – the immediate two games after the international window will potentially display crucial signs as to how silverware this campaign could be won.
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