Sonia Bompastor urges Chelsea to bounce back from ‘tough’ Barcelona loss by widening lead over WSL rivals
SONIA BOMPASTOR insists Chelsea “will never give up” as they aim to bounce back from their disappointing Champions League defeat.
And the Blues head coach is uncertain whether striker Sam Kerr will return to action before the end of this season.
The WSL leaders host Crystal Palace on Wednesday in their first top-flight clash following their 4-1 Champions League semis first leg loss on Sunday.
A tough result that left their quadruple hopes and target of winning the contest this season hanging by a thread.
While they hope to pull off a huge comeback in their European tie, Chelsea are also focused on claiming an eighth WSL title and sixth FA Cup.
Bullish Blues chief Bompastor, 44, whose team have lost just twice so far this term, said: “It’s always tough to lose especially when you are Chelsea as it’s something you don’t experience a lot.
“I will never give up and my players will never give up. This is our mentality. We want to achieve a lot this season.
“We have three more competitions to play in, hopefully, until the last moment in the season, but everyone is ready for that.
“I have depth in my squad. So every player is ready to compete in every competition, every game we have to play.”
While Chelsea do have depth two influential players currently out of action are forward Lauren James and striker Sam Kerr.
The creative flair and attacking threat James brings was missed by her side during their clash with Barcelona.
And her club pal Kerr is continuing her recovery from a knee ligament tear she suffered during a winter training camp in January 2024.
When asked about the potential of a Kerr comeback before this season ends, Bompastor added: “I’m not in a position to give any time frame on her return.
“I know she won’t be involved in the game this weekend.”
After tomorrow’s clash the WSL leaders host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and hope to overcome a three-goal deficit in the decisive leg of their Champions League tie.
In addition to being a confidence boost, a defeat of the bottom-placed Eagles would also restore Chelsea’s six-point lead at the summit.
Rivals Arsenal are currently second and three points.
Bompastor added: “Monday was a difficult day for everyone – staff and players.
“But I told my players now we need to look at the future.
“We want to go back to top of the table six and points ahead of Arsenal, that’s the main focus.
“The only thing we can control now is the future.
“We need to show a reaction in this game, that’s the main thing and the most important thing.”