Bompastor's Appointment At Chelsea Reflects Growth Of Women's Super League And Global Appeal

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Natasha Dowie sees Sonia Bompastor's appointment at Chelsea as a testament to the Women's Super League's growing global allure. Bompastor, who had a successful stint at Lyon, including a Champions League victory, replaces Emma Hayes this summer. Hayes led Chelsea to seven WSL titles, winning the last five consecutively. Bompastor now faces the challenge of becoming the first manager to win the league on their debut attempt.

Dowie, now a Liverpool ambassador after twice winning the league with them, believes this move underscores the WSL's recent growth. She remarked to Stats Perform: "I think it's not just the best players in the world that want to come and play in England now, it's the best managers in the world. And that wasn't the case back in the day, and I think that's just brilliant."

Bompastor's arrival could be pivotal for Chelsea's elusive Champions League title quest. Despite domestic success, they have faced near misses and lost in the 2021 final. Dowie noted, "She's won everything at Lyon... So now to move to a club like Chelsea... I think now the challenge for her... is how can we help Chelsea win the Champions League? That's all they haven't won."

The return of Sam Kerr from injury excites Dowie as well. Kerr is expected to play a crucial role for Chelsea once again. A Twitter post from Chelsea FC Women highlighted Kerr's importance:

Kerr suffered an ACL tear during Chelsea's January training camp, sidelining her for half of last season. Before her injury, she averaged 0.61 goals per 90 minutes from 3.66 shots per game with a conversion rate of 16.67%. Dowie stated, "[Kerr] is the number one striker... she always produces... I think they missed her last year even though they won the league."

Dowie added that Kerr's presence is daunting for opponents and entertaining for fans due to her charisma and skills like backflips. "I think we're all excited to see her back performing," she said.

Manchester United's Prospects

Dowie anticipates Manchester United will improve their WSL performance this year after their FA Cup final success last season. The Red Devils finished two points behind Chelsea in 2022-23 but struggled last year and lost key players like Mary Earps.

"I do think United will push on again this year," Dowie commented. "To be fighting for the title with Chelsea... then finish fifth last year was really disappointing." She expects United to compete for trophies again and considers them a potential surprise package.

The Women's Super League continues to attract top talent worldwide, both on and off the pitch. With new managerial appointments and returning stars like Sam Kerr, teams are poised for exciting challenges ahead.