28 wins from 31 matches across all competitions, and any uncertainty surrounding the acquisition of the Chelsea boss baton by Sonia Bompastor has all but dissipated into the ether.

Bompastor’s Blues have continued to demonstrate their “monster mentality” developed under Emma Hayes during her 12-year tenure.

It was longstanding Chelsea Captain, Millie Bright who gave voice to this powerful image, following their title-clinching 6-0 thrashing over Manchester United on the last day of the 23/24 season.

The unrelenting nature of which Chelsea competed in the run-in, and in many seasons throughout Hayes’ tenure, proved to be impossible for other sides to rival.

Despite the transition from Hayes to Bompastor, the Blues’ mercilessness has remained unwavering, with the West Londoners sitting astride the WSL table with an eight-point lead and just five matches remaining.

In fact, an unprecedented quadruple is appearing ever the more possible as the season enters its final two months.

Having already secured silverware in the League Cup, semi-finals in the FA Cup and Champions League await the Blues in April.

The one question this highly impressive feat begs is how has the transition been so seamless?

Formidable Foundations

Although Hayes departed Chelsea, the majority of her players remained to continue their pursuit of silverware.

Bright has stayed at the club since her arrival in 2014, offering stability and leadership to her teammates no matter the circumstances.

WSL Full-Time journalist, Bethany Barker said to me: “Millie Bright as Captain kept that consistency, she reflected Hayes’ principles to the players after she left.”

While several notable players departed the club in the form of Fran Kirby, Melanie Leupolz and Jess Carter, the absence of them has in fact not heavily been felt due to squad depth.

Under Bompastor, midfielders Sjoeke Nüsken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd accompany right-back Lucy Bronze at the heart of Chelsea’s formidability.

Bronze was one of four golden additions to the side in the summer before Bompastor’s Chelsea dugout debut. Trio Sandy Baltimore, Oriane Jean-Francois and Maelys Mpome have also impressed when featuring as part of Bompastor’s squad rotation.

Chelsea’s winter transfer window also exceeded expectations, with the signing of illustrious midfielder Keira Walsh proving to further bolster their already star-studded squad.

In just her first few games, the playmaker has provided insightful through balls and intricate footwork reminiscent of her not-so-distant Barcelona days.

In January, Chelsea also secured the most expensive signing in women’s football history with a fee of £900,000 for American centre-back Naomi Girma.

Although Girma only managed to make her debut before suffering a calf injury, the future certainly looks to be a promising one with players of Girma’s calibre committing to the club.

Wide and Direct

While the players that remained offered Bompastor a winning formula, the tactics have been the most noticeable difference between Hayes’ and Bompastor’s Chelsea.

The latter chose to introduce the 4-2-3-1 formation of which she used to great effect at Lyon, while also continuing to deploy the 4-3-3 formation Hayes utilised.

The occasional replacement of a central midfielder for an attacking one demonstrates Bompastor’s preference for a more attacking set-up.

This is where the real change is evident: on the attack. In recent seasons, Hayes allowed for organised chaos – however paradoxical that may seem.

Her players were given the license to vacate spaces that they felt they could make an impact from rather than occupying a specific position on the pitch.

This is very much the antithesis of Bompastor’s rigid structure, of which each player has a position and the side produce their build-up play out wide.

When the wingers receive the ball they are advised to be direct, crafting moments of individual brilliance rather than a well-worked team goal of which was a typical trope of ‘Hayes ball’.

Winger and midfielder Kaneryd has benefited in abundance from Bompastor’s blueprint, as the 28-year-old loves to take players on.

Kaneryd has four goals and six assists across all competitions this season, with the player producing the most assists for Chelsea in the WSL so far.

It certainly appears Bompastor’s more rigid structure and emphasis on creativity from her wingers has helped those such as Kaneryd and Lauren James to flourish.

“Lauren James has shown her versatility under Bompastor, developing defensive aspects of her game as well as impressing offensively,” said Barker.

European Glory to Cease as an Untold Story?

On Thursday evening, Bompastor lead her side to a historic comeback against Manchester City in the Champions League, turning the tide on the 2-0 deficit Chelsea held prior to the match.

A 3-0 victory secured the side a spot in the competition’s semi-finals, with familiar foe Barcelona their upcoming opponent.

The Blues are yet to clinch European glory, exiting the Champions League twice in the semi-finals while also suffering a 4-0 defeat in the 2021 final, all to Barcelona.

The spotlight has very much been on Bompastor throughout her side’s Champions League campaign, with the manager basking in its glare with a calm and collected demeanour.

If the Blues do again fall short in their task of defeating the Blaugrana, the immense pain felt by the team and external criticism would surely tarnish Bompastor’s otherwise flawless first season at Chelsea.

“Facing Barcelona is always tough, but it could show how much has changed since Hayes’ departure. Being at home for the second leg should help Chelsea,” Barker added.

Therefore, much is at stake for the Blues in the remaining months of the season.

Will Bompastor immortalise herself as Chelsea’s greatest ever manager by securing the Champions League – or even better, the seemingly unattainable quadruple?

Only time will tell… Or rather a few more ruthless performances from her players.