Chelsea Coach Aims for European Glory After Domestic Success

Even after securing a treble and going undefeated in her first season in the UK, Chelsea head coach Sonia Bonpaster still feels there’s more to achieve, particularly eyeing the elusive European title.

Following a solid 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Wembley, Bonpaster’s squad, which wrapped up their home campaign with an impressive unbeaten streak of 30 matches, found themselves falling short against Barcelona in the women’s Champions League semi-finals back in April. They celebrated their sixth women’s FA Cup win in the last decade, yet Bonpaster expressed, “We’re thrilled, but we didn’t clinch the Champions League.”

“Some players have noted, ‘We’re missing the Champions League,’ so that’s our target moving forward,” she added. The coach emphasized, “While it’s fantastic to finish on this high in domestic terms, our ultimate goal is to compete against Europe’s best.”

At present, Chelsea boasts 18 major trophies in women’s football, an impressive collection largely accumulated since 2015. This season, they outstripped competition, winning the title by a margin of 12 points, their largest yet.

Bonpaster further remarked, “We want to be the best in this competition, staying top of the league while helping elevate others along the way.”

The financial disparity between Chelsea and United was evident, with Chelsea co-owners Behadad Egbari and Todd Bouley present, while United’s Jim Ratcliffe skipped the event for the second consecutive season. Nonetheless, United did have some key figures, including CEO Omar Bellada and technical director Jason Wilcox, in attendance.

Bonpaster noted, “It’s great to see ownership here, but what really matters is knowing they are genuinely supportive of the team. As a woman in football, that’s vital for feeling you’re part of the right club.”

When asked about Ratcliffe’s absence, United’s head coach, Mark Skinner, said, “I’m not sure why Jim wasn’t here, but we had solid representation. I’d rather focus on what needs improvement rather than chasing a story.” He mentioned the importance of seeing the match for understanding how to address the widening financial gap with Chelsea.

Skinner concluded, “It’s clear that investment in talent is essential to bridge that gap, not just someone showing up.”

Chelsea was also cheered on at Wembley by new minority owner, Alexis O’Hanian, who recently acquired a 10% stake in the women’s team. The Reddit co-founder, alongside his wife Serena Williams and daughter Olympia, stated during halftime, “The potential here is limitless. What’s appealing about this club is its ambition. One day, it could become a billion-dollar franchise.”