Sonia Bompastor is assured Chelsea can “go all the way” after dumping Manchester Metropolis out of the Champions League in scintillating model to arrange a semi-final assembly with holders Barcelona in April.
The Blues – dealing with Metropolis for a fourth consecutive match – wanted to put all of it on the road at Stamford Bridge after shedding the away leg 2-0, their first loss throughout any competitors all season.
Sandy Baltimore fired the hosts in entrance within the 14th minute and Nathalie Bjorn nodded a second earlier than Mayra Ramirez added the decisive third in an exhilarating first-half comeback.
Bompastor, who has received the Champions League as a participant and coach, will now must mastermind a solution to beat reigning champions Barcelona if she is to make good on her promise of reaching a primary last since 2021.
“We have all the quality to go all the way,” she advised TNT.
“Barcelona have a whole lot of expertise, it will likely be a troublesome recreation. However for us tonight it is time to take pleasure in. A extremely nice efficiency and we’ll see later how we will give attention to the semi-finals and Barcelona.
“What a particular evening in entrance of our followers. After the primary leg I knew we may do it. It is one thing to say, after which it’s a must to flip phrases into motion.
“In football, when you are live everything becomes possible. I told my players we’re having a great season and we didn’t have this scenario where we have to come back, but tonight we had to create memories and the girls did that. They believed it was possible and put it all out there.
“This one is a particular one. For this reason soccer is magic. I made my plan fallacious as a result of I mentioned we needed to rating three targets in 90 minutes and we did it in 45.
“If we play that way we are a really, really good team.”
Eight-times winners Lyon face Arsenal within the different semi, with the ultimate going down in Lisbon on Might 24.
Cushing praises need regardless of disappointment
Manchester Metropolis interim head coach Nick Cushing:
“I’m disappointed we didn’t progress, but immensely proud of the group.
“Massively optimistic within the dedication and need, willpower for a gaggle who has had a whole lot of stress, coaching, video games in opposition to a high staff over the past two weeks. To maintain going, believing ultimately, exhibits the character this group has.
“But it’s difficult for me to say where we’re at because we have a lot of players missing. That’s not an excuse, but the determination is there.
“We have now given Chelsea issues over the 4 video games. With a lot stress on the group, to nonetheless be in it exhibits the character this group has.”
Man Metropolis’s Khiara Keating was left dejected at full time
‘Chelsea need home dominance to be unquestionable’
Sky Sports activities’ Anton Toloui:
When you come for the queen, you’d higher not miss. That tailored quote from The Wire sums up the four-game collection between Chelsea and Man Metropolis.
Metropolis had the temerity to punch Chelsea within the intestine within the first leg earlier than the Londoners got here out swinging within the second, leaving their opponents on the canvas by half-time.
Add to that, Chelsea additionally beat their rivals within the League Cup last and WSL too.
Chatting with the Chelsea gamers, they by no means need any doubt about who the perfect staff within the nation is. It bothers them they’ve by no means been in a position to develop into the perfect staff on the continent too.
Each Erin Cuthbert and Millie Shiny admitted to Sky Sports activities after the ultimate whistle the staff now has its subsequent mission in sight: revenge in opposition to Barcelona within the semi-finals.
As for Man Metropolis, developing quick in opposition to the just about perennial English champions, particularly after a interval of turmoil, is hardly a supply of disgrace.
The Cushing period will probably be judged by one factor – getting his beloved membership again into the highest three of the WSL to allow them to benefit from the privilege of European soccer once more subsequent season.
Metropolis can even take consolation from the very fact they’re lacking six key gamers, together with Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Alex Greenwood. An enormous home run-in awaits, with a league and cup double in opposition to Manchester United doubtlessly defining the success of their marketing campaign.
And one final anecdote. Chelsea and Man Metropolis do have yet another alternative to go face to face. Anybody fancy a sixth half to this fascinating rivalry within the FA Cup last at Wembley in Might?
