Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has encouraged her team to draw confidence from their 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League. Ellie Carpenter's impressive goal put Chelsea ahead in the 16th minute, but Ewa Pajor soon equalised for Barcelona. Despite a disallowed goal by Catarina Macario due to offside, Chelsea had several opportunities to secure a win.
Bompastor expressed satisfaction with Chelsea's performance, noting they generated 0.99 expected goals compared to Barcelona's 0.91. Both teams managed three shots on target from nine attempts each. "I think we were the better team tonight," Bompastor told BBC Sport, highlighting Chelsea's strong showing and numerous chances created during the match.
Despite missing a late opportunity,
Carpenter's early strike showcased Chelsea's attacking potential. Bompastor emphasised that playing with such determination against a formidable opponent like Barcelona was encouraging for her squad. She believes this performance should instill pride and confidence in her players.
Barcelona remains at the top of the league phase despite losing their perfect start in Europe. Last season, they eliminated Chelsea in the semi-finals with an 8-2 aggregate victory. Head coach Pere Romeu acknowledged Chelsea's strong first-half performance but felt his team improved after halftime.
"Chelsea were very stable and pressed us well," Romeu noted, adding that Chelsea dominated second balls and limited Barcelona's play. He praised Chelsea for matching their players effectively, making it a different encounter compared to last season's semi-final.
Looking Ahead
Bompastor is pleased with her team's efforts but also feels some frustration over not securing a win. "We scored a great goal," she said, expressing both happiness and disappointment at the result. She stressed that maintaining this mindset can help Chelsea realise their potential against top-tier teams like Barcelona.
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The match demonstrated Chelsea's ability to compete with Europe's elite clubs. Bompastor hopes this performance will serve as a foundation for future successes in the competition. The team aims to build on this result as they continue their Champions League journey.
