Chelsea will be a more than complicated rival for Barça in the Champions League final in Gothenburg 2021. Second English finalist in history after their London rival, Arsenal, took the European title in 2007, the 'blue' team wants to reward their great commitment to women's football with the first continental trophy in their showcases. A fact that could have double value, if his men's team also succeeds in the other European final against Manchester City (May 29).
The truth is Nobody is surprised by the level of this team neither in the Champions League nor in the Super League english, where he has just revalidated the league title for the second consecutive season. Its success is the result of a great economic investment by the club in its female squad, where we find Renowned footballers like Sam Kerr, with a millionaire contract, or Pernille Harder, that last summer became the most expensive transfer in the history of women's football in Europe.
An almost unstoppable Kerr, Kirby and Harder trident
Both players, with prizes and distinctions at all levels, shape the attack of the 'blues' together with the English Fran Kirby, forming an offensive trident that accumulates almost 80 goals to their credit. Chelsea not only have power and quality on their front. The English team has a very balanced squad at all levels. A good formation that has allowed them to eliminate three of last season's quarter-finalists and once again be the best team in the competitive English league.
To the names of his three star strikers, among whom Harder usually plays more as a playmaker as a support, are added other headlines such as Ji So-yun and Melanie Leupolz in the engine room. The captain also stands firm in defense Magdalena Eriksson and Millie Bright, with Jonna Andersson normally on the left back and Jess Carter on the right as an alternative to the injured Maren Mjelde. In goal, there are no doubts with a Berger who has had a spectacular season under the sticks.
In command of all of them is Emma Hayes, who has been managing the Chelsea women's team since 2012. Without a doubt, the English coach is an institution in the 'blue' entity, winning ten titles to date. As a curiosity, Hayes was in the technical team of Arsenal in 2007 when the also London team became the first and only team to win the Women's Champions League in England.
It should be remembered that Chelsea was born in 2004. Since then, has won four leagues (2015, 2017-18, 2019-20 and 2020-21), with a double in 2015, in which he also raised the Cup. The 'blues' are the current champions of the highest competition in English women's football. Title that was revalidated for the second season in a row. In this sense, it should be noted that those of Emma Hayes were proclaimed champions in 2012-20 after the League was suspended due to COVID-19 and taking into account a coefficient system for points. This season they also have a double, with a possible triplet if they win the Champions League.
This is how they see Chelsea from Barça
Lluís Cortés praised his rival in the run-up to the European final in Gothenburg. The Barça coach said in an interview with UEFA that “Chelsea is a great team with great players.” “Emma Hayes is a great coach, she knows how to handle match times very well. She trusts her players, believe in the party plan and go with that plan to the end, knowing that they will have options “, argues the Catalan coach.
To this, the Barça coach added that Chelsea is a team capable of winning a game “without having possession or dominating the game.” “They are capable of scoring goals in very fast transitions, that demands much more from you at the level of concentration. We must also monitor the actions from set pieces, which we already saw against Bayern that they are capable of scoring from set pieces, and this is what must be watched from this English rival, “he concluded.
Players like Aitana Bonmatí also spoke about their rival. “He is very clear about what he plays, a very direct football. We will have to control their forwards and the players who make the last pass well. In addition, the pressure after loss will be very important, “said the Barça youth squad.
Chelsea's path to the Champions League final
Round of 32: 8-0 on aggregate against Benfica
Round of 16: 3-0 on aggregate against Atlético
Quarter finals: 5-1 on aggregate against Wolfsburg
Semifinals: 5-3 on aggregate against Bayern Munich
Top scorer: Fran Kirby (6). A figure with which he remains tied on goals with Jenni Hermoso for the top scorer in the Champions League.
Best season in Champions: semifinals (2017/18, 2018/19). In 2019/20 he did not participate.