Chelsea Faces Major Setbacks After Defeat to Man City

Chelsea endured a disappointing setback on Sunday, suffering a staggering 5-1 defeat against Manchester City. This loss significantly impacts their title aspirations, with manager Bompastor having previously expressed concerns that the championship might already be out of reach for the team.

Following this defeat, Chelsea finds themselves 12 points behind Manchester City’s lead, who are now 11 points ahead of second-placed Manchester United with only eight matches remaining in the season. As City approaches their first Women’s Super League (WSL) title in a decade, Chelsea prepares to relinquish the crown they have held since 2019. The focus for Chelsea now shifts to securing a top-three finish to guarantee a Champions League spot, as they currently occupy third place, just one point ahead of Arsenal, although the Gunners have a game in hand.

The absence of Lucy Bronze on Sunday has added to Chelsea’s woes. Although the duration of her sidelining remains uncertain, Bompastor’s comments post-match did not provide much reassurance for the Blues’ supporters. Bronze, who suffered a fractured tibia last summer and played through pain at the 2025 European Championship to aid England’s triumph, had previously missed the initial month of the WSL season during her recovery. Bompastor confirmed that Bronze experienced renewed pain in her shin, leading to her exclusion from the squad for the Manchester trip. “She just felt pain in her shin again,” Bompastor remarked. “We felt it was the right decision for her not to travel and to rest for this game. We’ll assess her again and see how it goes.”

Further complicating matters, Chelsea will soon lose Ellie Carpenter for an extended period due to her commitment to the upcoming Asian Cup. Carpenter and Bronze have been vital assets for the Blues in the right-back position this season. Carpenter will travel to Australia to represent the Matildas in their pursuit of a first continental title since 2010, expected to participate for the majority of the tournament as Australia is among the favorites.

The unavailability of both players would pose a significant challenge for Bompastor, forcing her to explore less conventional options in defense. The team faces crucial matches during the Asian Cup, including the League Cup final against Manchester United, with the first leg of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final occurring just four days after the Asian Cup final.

Additionally, on Sunday, Aggie Beever-Jones required treatment for an ankle injury that has previously sidelined her. Despite the pain, she continued playing only because Chelsea had exhausted their substitutions. Bompastor noted, “I think she twisted a little bit again, that same ankle. It’s probably quite painful for her. I’m hoping for her to be okay because we need to have players. We already have a lot of injuries.”

This injury crisis is also a concern for the England national team as they prepare for the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which begins next month. The reigning European champions will kick off their qualifying journey with a match against Ukraine in Turkey on March 3, followed by a home game against Iceland four days later. England is grouped with Spain, where only the group champion will secure automatic qualification for the World Cup, emphasizing the importance of a fully fit squad.