Chelsea Women face the final stretch of the season, and if they want to have any chance of winning a title, they can no longer afford to drop any points.
Chelsea returns to league action this Sunday against Aston Villa after a grueling run of games that included a win in the League Cup and a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
With virtually no margin for error, the London side knows any slip-up could mathematically end its title aspirations in the WSL, where it currently sits in third place, nine points behind leader Manchester City and just one point behind second-place Manchester United.
Sonia Bompastor’s team currently finds itself in a situation where consistency is all that matters. Despite the distractions of continental competition, the focus remains firmly on securing three points at Kingsmeadow to keep the pressure on the league leaders.
Girma insists the squad cannot afford to underestimate its nearest rivals, regardless of the magnitude of the match. The U.S. international believes the approach remains the same whether fighting for a title or a European spot.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“I would say it’s now a must-win in every league game,” she said on the club’s official website. “It’s just about going game by game and not looking too far ahead. It’s easy to do that. Whether you’re running away with the league or you’re competing for a Champions League spot, the process is always the same. I don’t think that changes.”
The 25-year-old defender highlighted that squad depth will be the decisive factor during this hectic period. With the second leg against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge just around the corner, rotation and mental strength are key.
“It’s just about keeping the same mentality and preparing for each game the same way to make sure that we’re ready,” she said. “We have to be ready to step up and be willing to play for each other. This part of the season is very busy. Obviously, we have a lot of games in this stretch, but that’s when we really lean on our squad, and we trust the preparation, we trust that everyone is ready to play their role.”
Following the crucial match against Aston Villa, the Blues will immediately turn their attention to European competition, where they will face Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. They will then meet Tottenham in the FA Cup quarterfinals before playing their final three WSL matches against Everton, Leicester City, and finally Manchester United.
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