“We are super happy but we didn’t win the Champions League, which was also one of our goals. Some of the people there on the pitch were already mentioning ‘we are missing the Champions League’, so that’s who we are, that’s our goal.” – Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea head coach
Sonia Bompastor has accomplished what many thought impossible: guiding Chelsea to a perfect domestic treble without losing a single league match in her debut season in England.
Yet, despite the remarkable 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley to secure the Women’s FA Cup, the French tactician’s ambitions stretch beyond English borders.
The celebrations at Wembley were jubilant but tempered by the memory of April’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona, where the London side was comprehensively outplayed.
The European Challenge Ahead
For Bompastor, domestic dominance is only part of the journey.
“I want to make sure we are all able to achieve that goal, to win the Champions League with the club,” she emphasized after the FA Cup triumph.
Her vision extends beyond England’s shores, with a clear focus on competing against Europe’s elite.
“Everyone is saying ‘maybe Chelsea will run away from the pack’ in the league in England, but our goal for us is to compete against the best teams in Europe,” Bompastor stated.
This hunger for continental success reflects the growing ambition of women’s football in England, mirroring the trajectory of men’s clubs seeking to translate domestic success into European glory.
A Dynasty in the Making
Chelsea’s dominance in English women’s football is unprecedented.
This season’s league title was secured with a 12-point margin – their largest ever – highlighting the growing gap between the Blues and their domestic rivals.
Since 2015, Chelsea has amassed an impressive 18 major women’s trophies, establishing a dynasty in the English game.
Bompastor acknowledges this dominance but sees it as a responsibility rather than just an achievement.
“We want that competition, to produce our best. We want to make sure we’re top of the league and bring everyone else with us – this is what we want to achieve – but we need the other teams to still invest and come with us,” she explained.
The Investment Gap
The financial disparity between clubs was symbolically represented in the director’s boxes at Wembley.
Chelsea co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly were present to witness their team’s triumph, while Manchester United’s Sir Jim Ratcliffe was notably absent for the second consecutive season.
United was represented by chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox, but the absence of their principal owner raised questions.
When questioned about Ratcliffe’s non-attendance, United head coach Marc Skinner deflected, saying: “I don’t know why Jim wasn’t here, but we were really well represented.”
He added pointedly: “The reality is, it’s the investment in the team that needs to happen, it’s not whether you’re visible. As long as our team is being invested in. We need to close that gap.”
Ownership Commitment Comparison
| Club | Ownership Representation at Final | Recent Investment Signals |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | Co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly present | Alexis Ohanian’s £20m investment for 10% stake |
| Manchester United | Omar Berrada (CEO) and Jason Wilcox (Technical Director) | Ratcliffe absent for second consecutive final |
The Billion-Dollar Vision
Chelsea’s ambitious trajectory received another boost with the recent acquisition of a 10% stake in the women’s club by Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams.
The £20 million investment values the women’s team at £200 million, a significant milestone for women’s football.
Speaking at halftime during the final, Ohanian shared his vision: “These are the queens of global soccer and they’ve got the trophy case to prove it, so I feel so humbled.”
“The sky’s the limit and what I love about this club is, this club is unapologetically ambitious. This will be a billion-dollar franchise one day.” – Alexis Ohanian, new minority owner of Chelsea Women
This bold prediction reflects the growing commercial potential of women’s football, particularly for clubs with established winning traditions.
Lessons for Vietnamese Football Development
For Vietnamese football enthusiasts, Chelsea’s model offers valuable insights into building sustainable success.
The combination of strategic ownership investment, coaching excellence, and clear long-term ambitions has transformed Chelsea from competitors to dominant forces.
Vietnamese clubs like Hanoi FC and Hoàng Anh Gia Lai could benefit from studying this approach to development, particularly as the V.League 1 seeks to raise its profile and competitive level.
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has expressed ambitions to develop women’s football, and the Chelsea blueprint – balancing domestic success with international aspirations – provides a roadmap for sustainable growth.
Looking Ahead
As Chelsea celebrates their historic treble, the question remains whether they can translate this domestic dominance into European success.
For Bompastor and her squad, the 2024-25 season will be defined not just by maintaining their grip on English football, but by their performance against continental powerhouses like Barcelona.
The challenge of competing at the highest level of European football remains their ultimate goal – a familiar sentiment for football fans worldwide, including those in Vietnam who dream of seeing their national team and clubs compete successfully on the Asian stage.
The journey from domestic dominance to continental glory is perhaps football’s greatest challenge – one that transcends borders and unites football cultures across the globe.
