Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor is facing an unprecedented crisis as her team fights for survival in the Women's Super League. The Blues' 5-1 thrashing at Manchester City has sparked widespread talk of a crisis, with many pundits predicting a lengthy downward spiral.
Bompastor, who won a treble last season while remaining unbeaten domestically, is under intense scrutiny after taking a provocative stance on her team's "squad depth". The Frenchwoman's comments were seen as a thinly veiled attack on the club's spending power, and risked alienating key players who are set to leave this summer.
The tension within the squad is palpable, with several senior players reportedly feeling disenchanted with Bompastor's tactics. Captain Millie Bright has been at the centre of the controversy, with some sources suggesting that she is playing for a different team - albeit one that doesn't exist yet.
As Chelsea prepare to face Tottenham in their next fixture, they need to put aside their differences and come together if they are to avoid serious danger of not qualifying for the Women's Champions League. The Blues have a poor defensive record recently, conceding as many goals this season as they did across the entire previous term.
The fact that several members of the team and staff were less than impressed with Bright's public dismissal of goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has highlighted the need for unity within the squad. Bompastor's new contract extension is seen as a vote of confidence in her abilities, but she must prove it on the pitch if Chelsea are to get back on track.
The pressure is mounting, and Chelsea fans may be reassured by their team's impressive record against Tottenham - they have won 17 meetings in a row. However, if Bompastor's side fail to match that intensity against Spurs, they could find themselves leapfrogged in the table and facing serious consequences.
Bompastor, who won a treble last season while remaining unbeaten domestically, is under intense scrutiny after taking a provocative stance on her team's "squad depth". The Frenchwoman's comments were seen as a thinly veiled attack on the club's spending power, and risked alienating key players who are set to leave this summer.
The tension within the squad is palpable, with several senior players reportedly feeling disenchanted with Bompastor's tactics. Captain Millie Bright has been at the centre of the controversy, with some sources suggesting that she is playing for a different team - albeit one that doesn't exist yet.
As Chelsea prepare to face Tottenham in their next fixture, they need to put aside their differences and come together if they are to avoid serious danger of not qualifying for the Women's Champions League. The Blues have a poor defensive record recently, conceding as many goals this season as they did across the entire previous term.
The fact that several members of the team and staff were less than impressed with Bright's public dismissal of goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has highlighted the need for unity within the squad. Bompastor's new contract extension is seen as a vote of confidence in her abilities, but she must prove it on the pitch if Chelsea are to get back on track.
The pressure is mounting, and Chelsea fans may be reassured by their team's impressive record against Tottenham - they have won 17 meetings in a row. However, if Bompastor's side fail to match that intensity against Spurs, they could find themselves leapfrogged in the table and facing serious consequences.