4 things we learned from Chelsea’s first pre-season win against Gotham FC

Chelsea put on an impressive performance during the opening game of their pre-season tour in the United States, bagging a 3-1 victory over Gotham FC.

The club have undergone a lot of changes since the end of last season, with a whole bunch of signings and a new head coach following the departure of Emma Hayes.

Sonia Bompastor would've been feeling the pressure ahead of kick-off, determined to show that she has what it takes to help the Blues sustain their winning ways, and we are pleased to report she most definitely does.

Midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd bagged two goals, with Aggie Beever-Jones netting a third. Despite the loss, Gotham did manage to get onto the scoresheet thanks to former Chelsea defender Jess Carter. 

Here’s what we learned from Chelsea’s first pre-season win. 

1. The Sonia Bompastor era has begun

Sonia Bompastor only arrived at the club a few weeks ago and she’s already proven herself to be a worthy hire. When Emma Hayes announced she was leaving Chelsea after twelve years, it was hard to believe anyone would want to replace her and take on the legacy that was left behind.

Coming into her first game as leader, Bompastor had bucket loads of pressure to deal with as fans watched on in anticipation to see if she had what it took.

It was certainly a comfortable win, and one that no doubt led to a huge sigh of relief. As part of their pre-season tour in the US, Chelsea will take on WSL rivals Arsenal next on 25 August. Despite a huge victory over NWSL side Washington Spirit, many will still be eager to see how Bompastor fares against a club they are set to come up against in a bid to retain their title.

2. Lucy Bronze's debut

England international Lucy Bronze made her first start as a Blue following her arrival this summer. It’s no surprise that the right-back was named in Bompastor’s starting squad, after it was revealed that she pitched the highly decorated player to the club after her appointment, following their time together at Lyon.

Her signing was first announced by the club in July, marking her return to the WSL after making 400 senior appearances throughout her career across clubs, including Sunderland, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Lyon. 

Bronze has said that her desire to join Chelsea came from wanting to add more silverware to her cabinet, despite already winning two Liga F titles, two Champions League titles, one Copa de la Reina and two Spanish Super Cups. In England, she’s won every domestic honour, including three WSL titles. 

3. A never-ending pool of talent

As it stands, Chelsea have a 35-player squad. Bompastor’s starting lineup saw the return of Wieke Kaptein, who signed last summer and spent the season on loan at FC Twente, alongside returning Blues Erin Cuthbert, Guro Reiten, Lauren James, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Aggie Beever-Jones. 

Hannah Hampton started in goal, with captain Millie Bright, Nathalie Bjorn and Niamh Charles in front of her. Sophie Ingle replaced Cuthbert after she picked up an injury, ahead of five changes for the second half. 

Zecira Musovic, Maika Hamano, Eve Perisset, Ashley Lawrence and Sandy Baltimore all made an appearance, with Baltimore making her debut after joining from PSG. 

It’s clear Bompastor has a huge squad of talented players to choose from, and as expected, she's using this pre-season tour as an opportunity to observe talent ahead of the start of the WSL. 

4. All eyes on Aggie Beever-Jones

Aggie Beever-Jones bagged herself a goal in the first half, making for a stellar performance for the England international. 

The forward secured her effort from 12 yards out with a very cool finish. The emerging star is still so young, and we expect her to play an instrumental role in Chelsea's 2024/25 campaign.

The 21-year-old’s performance will have definitely excited Chelsea fans, as well as caught the eye of England fans ahead of their friendlies scheduled for later this year. 

We can’t wait to see what else she manages to achieve during the club’s time across the pond.

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