Chelsea Women hitting heights at the right time ahead of UWCL clash

Focus is back on the UEFA Women’s Champions League as Chelsea hosts Swiss champion Servette on Thursday night at Kingsmeadow. Having won comfortably away last week by way of a 7-0 thrashing, Emma Hayes’ side will be more than ready for a similar performance at home. The Blues are currently on a 12-game unbeaten run since their opening match defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Women’s Super League.

In Europe, Chelsea currently leads its group by two points after winning two and drawing one. A victory on Thursday will take the Blues one step closer to the next round. Sticking with a back three has helped Hayes use her squad more effectively in recent weeks. Players like Guro Reiten and Erin Cuthbert have benefitted the most as wingbacks. It has also encouraged her to use the central midfielders more effectively. This has Chelsea peaking at the perfect time.

Chelsea is peaking at the perfect time ahead of an upcoming UWCL match and the FA Cup final versus Arsenal

An injury to star player Pernille Harder has been a disappointing stain on the Blues’ season thus far and one that was expected to see the form dip. The Dane is yet to feature for Chelsea after picking up the injury during the last international break. Nevertheless, in her absence, Olympic gold medalist Jessie Fleming has stepped big time. After a steady first year, the Canadian is enjoying a significant run of form. She has started and scored in three consecutive matches for the first time for the Blues. None more important than the sole goal against Aston Villa a week back in the WSL.

There is some welcome news on the injury front with the return of Maren Mjelde though. She made her return to the pitch for the first time since March in Chelsea’s previous match against Servette. Although back to full fitness, Hayes is being careful of bringing new signing Lauren James into the starting XI. She is yet to feature for the Blues since signing during the summer.

Chelsea’s performance against Manchester City last Sunday will give the team a lot of confidence. Despite its success in the WSL, it was the first time it had won against Man City away. It was on top of that the 58th consecutive match where the Blues had found the back of the net. The next best record in the league is 28 matches behind the reigning WSL Champions.

Most of the squad will join their national teams after the WSL match against Birmingham for the upcoming international break. Afterward, they will be facing Arsenal at Wembley in the final of postponed 2020/21 FA Cup. A win will secure the Blues’ domestic treble after winning the 2020 WSL and Continental Tyres League Cup. Hayes should be confident of her fully fit squad for the showpiece event. Due to the late arrival of players who had an extended run in the Olympics, the squad that faced Arsenal in the opening match was not the ideal starting XI. Yet, the fight the Blues put on was the embodiment of the side Hayes has built over the years. Arsenal, however, is on a brilliant run of form too. The Gunners just recently dropped a point for the first time this season in WSL against Tottenham.

The Blues have now scored 15 goals in their last four matches without a reply. Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby are already Chelsea’s top two players in both the goal-scoring and assist charts. If they can keep up the current form, Wembley will be once again be blue come December 5.