Key events
Sonia Bompastor is under pressure at Chelsea, who look like going without a WSL title for the first time since 2019. The manager knows the expectation today, as in any competition they enter, is that Chelsea come home with the trophy:
I will always expect to have a lot of noise around Chelsea. There will be noise when you are losing, or when something happens, because I think this club is the best in England.
That’s why this happens and I’m totally fine with it. It’s important also when you are in high moments you don’t go too high and in more low moments you don’t go too low.
We just want to win because that’s part of our DNA. I don’t want to win because people are talking or making noise. That’s not what drives us.
Interview: Fridolina Rolfö starts this one on the bench for Manchester United. The serial winner with Barcelona has been speaking to Suzanne Wrack this week about the prospect of a first piece of silverware in England:
This is what we all strive for. The club wants this. We all want to win it and we strive to get there and now we’re there. We’ve been performing really well and we had a great game against Arsenal [in the semi-final], so we deserve to be in this final.
Starting lineups
Chelsea (4-3-3): Hampton; Bronze, Buchanen, Buurman, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert, Nusken; James, Rytting Kaneryd, Thompson.
Subs: Peng, Bjorn, Sarwie, Spencer, Kaptein, Potter, Beever-Jones.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Tullis-Joyce; Lundkvist, Le Tissier, Riviere, Janssen; Zigiotti Olme, Naalsund; Park, Terland, Malard; Wangerheim.
Subs: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Turner, Anderson, Awujo, Rolfo, Drury, Schuller.
Preamble
This time last year, there was talk that Chelsea had ticked off the first trophy of a possible quadruple after they beat Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final in Derby. Today, in Bristol, the feeling is quite different for the team that went on to win a domestic treble – not too shabby.
Chelsea’s defence of their WSL title is in tatters with Manchester City nine points clear of them – today’s opponents, Manchester United, are above them in the table. The FA Cup is still on (a quarter-final against Tottenham awaits) and a first Champions League is also possible (Arsenal stand in their way in that one). Beating United at Ashton Gate this afternoon would set them up nicely for the rest of the season.
As for United, they are still dreaming of catching City in the league (the gap is eight points) and have never won the League Cup – this is their first final. Marc Skinner’s side will also be keen to avenge their elimination at the hands of Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup last month.
We will have extra time and penalties if necessary as the first trophy of the English season is handed out. Get in touch via email or simply follow along.
Kick-off is 2.15pm (GMT) – team news is coming shortly.
