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Football Insider

Chelsea's Treble Pursuit: Analyzing the Blues' Quest for Glory Across Three Competitions

Despite encountering challenges in their WSL title defense, Chelsea's season is far from over as they compete for three trophies. Let's delve into the team's current situation and their aspirations for success.

Chelsea's Treble Pursuit: Analyzing the Blues' Quest for Glory Across Three Competitions

Chelsea’s season hasn’t gone to plan so far. After romping to a sixth successive Women’s Super League crown last year, going unbeaten through all 22 games to set multiple records, the Blues’ title defence has fallen incredibly flat. Sat nine points behind leaders Manchester City with six games to go, it’s simply not been good enough for a club with such high standards.However, that doesn’t mean Chelsea’s season can’t still end in a successful manner. Yes, things have been difficult in the league, and even keeping hold of a Champions League spot is going to be tough, but there are still three trophies on the table for the reigning English champions.Sonia Bompastor’s side are into the quarter-finals of both the FA Cup and the Champions League and, on Sunday, they face Manchester United in the League Cup final. Fresh off the back of beating the Red Devils in the FA Cup fifth round, another win over Marc Skinner’s side, to claim the first silverware of the season, could give Chelsea the boost they need to finish strongly, right some wrongs and silence the doubters.“We can still win several titles at this club,” Erin Cuthbert, into her 10th year representing the Blues, tells GOAL. “I think that is the expectation when you're at a club like Chelsea, that even if you're in a bad moment or people start to doubt you on the outside, it's always been the case that you have to bounce back and show them what you're made of.”There are plenty of reasons why Chelsea have not been their usually dominant and inevitable selves this season. Some are obvious, like the fact the Blues have just not been as clinical as they should, or normally would, be in front of goal. No team in the WSL is underperforming their expected goals (xG) statistic more than Chelsea, who have scored 29 times from an xG of 33.77. Third-from-bottom West Ham are next on that list, albeit with a negative differential of 2.66, compared to Chelsea’s 4.77.That’s at least partially related to the injuries the Blues have had to contend with. Just looking at their centre-forwards, Mayra Ramirez hasn’t played all season, Sam Kerr is only just back from a near-two-year injury lay-off and Aggie Beever-Jones has missed time with an ankle knock. Catarina Macario, who has played as a striker at times, hasn’t featured since December either, while the talismanic Lauren James only played her first 90 minutes of the season last month.But there are other issues, too. There’s the fact this team doesn’t look as defensively sturdy as last term, something that is in part down to Bompastor’s admittedly more attacking approach this term. But when that is not paying off in the final third, it makes frailties at the back more exposed.On the one hand, Chelsea’s dominance of the WSL couldn’t last forever. To win six titles in a row was incredible, especially given the contenders they are up against. City, United and Arsenal are no slouches, after all. But inside the Blues’ dressing room, that perspective is not being thrown around as a reason to brush off an underwhelming title defence.“I'm furious that the league might be falling out of reach and I don't like it,” Cuthbert says. “I think we really were in a patch that will be difficult to match even in the future and [winning six in a row] an incredible feat, but that doesn't make it any better or it doesn't give me any softer emotions towards [losing the title]. I'm a competitor. I want to win every single trophy.”Fortunately, Chelsea still have three trophies to play for. Sunday’s League Cup final presents the first chance of silverware, before a Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, the reigning European champions and the Blues’ big London rivals, comes later this month. Chelsea will then take on another foe from the capital, in Tottenham, on the first weekend of April, with a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals up for grabs.It’s a part of the season that demands a lot of players and the squads of these big clubs, often producing a schedule with matches every three or four days. The Blues have long been seen as the team to beat when it comes to depth, but injuries mean that isn’t the case as emphatically this term.That said, there are still plenty of top players at Bompastor’s disposal and, crucially, they have ample experience of the ‘business end’ of the season, something that not everyone else possesses.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingThat can be particularly advantageous when it comes to the way Chelsea approach these games. Reflecting on last year’s League Cup final, which saw the Blues beat Man City 2-1 to win the trophy, Cuthbert recalls that it “became any old game” to her, “because at that point in the season, every game is a cup final”.“Yes, there's a trophy at stake, but there's a trophy at stake in every single game that we're competing in,” she explains. “That's the sort of mindset that, if you get in a habit that every single game matters, it means you're not going to be over-awed by the occasion.”Do other teams have that mentality? Chelsea have been battling for multiple trophies for many years while Sunday’s opponents United, for example, are much newer to this. Could that work in the Blues’ favour? “You can play the occasion and not the game, and I think that's a dangerous place to be in,” Cuthbert notes of the more inexperienced sides.This Chelsea group have got into those situations regularly by finding different ways to win, too. Admittedly, the Blues’ feeling of inevitability is not quite as strong this season, with the fine margins not going their way as often. But this is a team that knows how to dig in and grind out a win, even if the performance is not quite where they would like it to be on the day, which is something that has been the case at times recently.It’s why Cuthbert is so proud of last year’s League Cup final win: “I think that performance, specifically, personified kind of what Chelsea's about. Fighting even when we weren't at our best, finding a way to win. I think going into the next few months, that's what we're going to need. We maybe don't have the rhythm but finding a way to win is what this Chelsea team has always done and it's what we have to continue doing.”If Chelsea can do that this weekend, it could be the spark their season needs.“It's the first trophy of the season and comes at a time where it can either give you that extra push to go on and be successful for the rest of the season, or it can knock the confidence a little bit going into the business end and all the big games,” Cuthbert concurs. “It’s important. It's an important trophy for us, it would be important for the group, it'd be important for the manager, and most of all, important for the club.”And after so much negativity surrounding this Chelsea team, after their first back-to-back WSL defeats in over 10 years, after questions about Bompastor’s future, and as their league crown slips away, what would it mean to this group of players to lift that trophy on Sunday?“It would be a big statement,” Cuthbert believes. “It would say a lot about where the team's at, it would say a lot about how resilient we are and how much we're able to just find a way to win, which is what this Chelsea team has always done.”

1

The Struggles in WSL Title Defense

Chelsea, after dominating the Women's Super League in recent years, has faced unexpected setbacks this season. With a nine-point gap to close in the league, their pursuit of a seventh consecutive title has hit roadblocks. Issues such as a lack of clinical finishing and defensive vulnerabilities have hampered their performance.

2

Trophies Still Within Reach

Despite the challenges, Chelsea remains involved in three competitions - the FA Cup, Champions League, and the upcoming League Cup final against Manchester United. The prospect of silverware in these tournaments offers the team a chance to salvage their season and demonstrate their resilience.

3

Injuries and Squad Depth

Injuries to key players like Mayra Ramirez and disruptions in the forward line have impacted Chelsea's attacking prowess. Although squad depth has been a historical strength, the team has been tested this season. However, the experience of the players in navigating high-pressure situations could prove vital.

4

Mindset and Winning Mentality

Chelsea's mentality towards every game being crucial, akin to a cup final, showcases their competitive spirit. The team's ability to grind out results, even on off-days, highlights their determination and character. This winning mindset will be crucial in pursuing success across multiple competitions.

5

Importance of League Cup Final

The League Cup final against Manchester United presents Chelsea with an opportunity to kickstart their trophy pursuit. A victory in this match could serve as a turning point in their season, boosting confidence and setting a positive trajectory for the remaining fixtures.

6

Looking Ahead

As Chelsea prepares for a crucial period featuring FA Cup and Champions League fixtures, the team's ability to navigate through challenges and capitalize on opportunities will be decisive. The determination to overcome adversity and emerge victorious can redefine their season.

Published on Mar 13, 2026