WSL legend Steph Houghton says a little surprise when Chelsea was again the dominant force in the title of the title this season, on the way to the sixth consecutive triumph, even after offering an an Emotional Farewell to the Emma Hayes Club icon last May.
Chelsea has set up a pace of the 2024/25 open weekend, winning nine WSL Games on a bounce and quite unnoticed by moving to a new era under Sonia Bompastor.
Blues remained undefeated in the league, taking 44 points out of a possible 48 to open a lead of eight points at the top-even played the game more than their closest challengers. In all competitions, these are 23 wins of 25 games, with the perfect record so far in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, who are waiting for the finals against Manchester City on the second weekend.
“I wouldn’t say a surprise,” Houghton’s answer to the question was 90min If there was anything unexpected in the constant dominance of Chelsea.
Summer employment was proactive and strong, while Bompastor – although he was new in English football – was a proven winner of elite caliber at the former Lyon club.
“They started really good and in fire. I think with the new manager to come, you get the form of a bounce that Emma Hayes left a great legacy there, but also a great team of players and Sonia definitely came in and added,” Houghton explained.
Last season, Chelsea looked like the WSL title would finally understand from their understanding as long as the late rush brought them back in front of Manchester City, sealing things on the last day of the season. The bright team mark wins no matter what, and it was not flawless from a week a week, and six of the 14 WSL wins came to a single goal.
“Chelsea has been known in recent years for being really clinically and ruthless, and they have certainly done so this season,” Houghton added.
After having slid back to fifth place last season – their worst end to WSL to this day – there would be a little expecting them to be the closest Chelsea challengers of 2024/25. But even after several high departures last summer, strong employment and rediscovered defense strength similar to what they supported their title 2022/23 title, United returned.
The victory in their game in hand against Liverpool on Friday night would reduce the gap on Chelsea to five points, and the couple should also face each other in Leigh Sports Village next month.
“I was impressed by Manchester United, and what made me even more impressed by their defensive side of the game,” said Houghton, one of the best backs in the world at its peak.
“They constantly keep clean leaves, which is so important when you want to be close to the top of the league. Obviously they did not have the Champions League football football football, so you get the opportunity to prepare during the week.”
90min He met Houghton, who hung boots after a star career with Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester City and England at the Rushbrook Academy, an elementary school in East Manchester, where she helped to give young girls a early taste of football last Friday.
The event was part of the fourth annual FA The biggest football session everFirst Great Activation of a New Made for this game The campaign aimed at crossing existing success Let the girls play And unlock the same options for women and girls in football.
“These are females and young girls involved in football, not only about sessions like today or in the field, but also a bigger picture of women allowed to be part of football,” Houghton explained, referring to all kinds of different roles that exist in sports.
“And this is their game and whether it is a journalist, to be in the room, to be a member of the staff, I think it is so important that women have a place in our game. With right, because this game has come so much in the last few years, especially in this country, and that they see girls here here [in Manchester] He was super special today. “
Since FA launched Let the girls play In the age of 2021, there were 56% increase in the number of women and girls playing football, 88% in the number of coaches developing and 113% of the increase in the number of female judges. Rear Victory of Euro 2022, Lionnesses successfully lobbied the Government of the United Kingdom for equal access to girls football at school.
Driving power behind Made for this game is the idea that the girls have been crossed from searching for permission to play, instead empower them to take up places in football they deserve.
But study 2022 revealed that almost half of the girls (43%) were considered “sports” in elementary school separated from sports after moving to high school.
“The opportunities are great for girls to come and play football, to see how it is, to create new friends. The thing is, we have to ensure that people can stay as much as possible,” Houghton explained, standing out a significant challenge that still lies in this regard.
“Maybe it’s not in the field, it may be in a different capacity, the bigger it is. The more we can see and promote it, the so important to the future of the game itself,” Houghton said.
The success of England on the field in recent years -Lanesses has reached the semifinals or better in every major tournament since 2015, including the Euro 2022 victory and the competition in the last finals of the 2023 World Cup, is related to the popularity of women’s football.
For Houghton, the success in England is “important” with the Euro 2025. On the horizon this summer, but efforts to develop the growth of women’s football in the country should continue no matter what is happening on the field in Switzerland and future tournaments.
“I think we need to continue to push him regardless of England’s appearances,” she said.
“This is important for the future generations and future laves that give them opportunities like this campaign to come and see what it is.
“You never know, these girls who have never played football have come before and will taste and think they can be involved in the game in the future.”
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