SONIA BOMPASTOR says Chelsea were “disappointed” to have their top-flight clash with Manchester United postponed.
The Blues boss also reckons the move to put their Women’s Super League duel on hold, was not good.
Sonia Bompastor hopes authorities in charge of the WSL will help English clubs competing in the Women’s Champions League[/caption]
Chelsea will face Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in their opening group stage game in this term’s tournament[/caption]
Bompastor, whose team hosts Real Madrid in the Champions League tomorrow, was reflecting on the decision that resulted in Chelsea missing out on WSL action at the weekend.
Their duel with the Red Devils was scheduled to take place on Sunday – just two days before their group stage opener against Madrid at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea chief said: “Of course, we were disappointed, players and staff.
“I think everyone has to understand we were supposed to play.
“We were in a very, very good team dynamic, and not having the opportunity to play this weekend changed everything in preparation for the game against Real Madrid.
“When you have the opportunity to play one game a week, and with this decision being made and postponing the game, now we have been out of competition for 10 days, which is completely different.
“If you look at the situation, the decision is not good.
“It’s not good for all the English clubs who are in the Champions League competition.”
Chelsea’s title win last term saw them automatically reach the tournament’s group stages this season.
And last month Arsenal and Manchester City joined them after battling through competition’s qualifiers.
On September 29 the Women’s Professional League Limited, who this term took over the running of the WSL, announced the postponement of the Blues’ clash with United.
They cited player welfare as the reason given the tight turnaround between domestic and European games for the WSL title-holders.
The organisation has come in for criticism concerning its decision, with Uefa having published its Champions League match calendar more than a year ago.
And Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall described the handling of the situation as “amateurish”.
On if better communication is needed between Uefa and federations and authorities like the WPLL, Bompastor added: “The league is a professional league.
“They need to know about the rules. I just said to the league my thoughts on the situation, I think that’s good enough for me.
“I don’t want to share more here in a press conference.
“For them, it’s good to have our feedback and as I always said to the league, we should be proud to have three English clubs in the Champions League this year.
“All the decisions in this league through the season have to be made in order to help the English clubs to compete in the Champions League.”
Tomorrow night at Stamford Bridge Chelsea will begin their quest to win a Women’s Champions League for the first time in their history.
Their game against Madrid, who are second in Spain’s top-flight and currently level on points with leaders Barcelona, will be Bompastor’s first in Europe as the Blues’ gaffer.
The last time Bompastor oversaw side competing in contest at the stadium was when her old club Lyon faced Chelsea in a second-leg semi-final game
In March last year they were beaten by the Blues, then managed Emma Hayes, via a dramatic penalty shootout.
Bompastor, who has won the tournament as a player and coach, also played for a Lyon team that reached the contest final at Stamford Bridge in 2013.
Back then they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to German giants Wolfsburg.
The last time Bompastor managed a team in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge was when Lyon played Chelsea in the 2023 semis[/caption]
The Blues manager adds: “I played in a Champions League final at Stamford Bridge in 2013 and I’ve been here as a manager of Lyon.
“Now I’m really excited because now I’m in the dugout for Chelsea and I’m the Chelsea manager.
“I can’t wait to be in that position, enjoy the game and enjoy to be out there with the players and the fans.”
