What might have been a spectacular season for Chelsea Women ended with disappointment with defeat at the hands of Barcelona Femeni in the Champions League final. Four goals down after only 36 minutes, Chelsea were outclassed by a devastating Barcelona unit that showed the gulf in class between the two squads, despite Chelsea’s domestic successes.
Emma Hayes’ Chelsea team have already shown themselves to be the dominant force in English football. Their Women’s Super League campaign, in which they lost only once all season, saw them secure a fourth title in six years, while a 6-0 thrashing of Bristol City in the League Cup final completed a domestic double. They are also still in the FA Cup, which will be completed later this year.
But football’s most prestigious trophy still eludes them after their humbling in the Champions League final. Chelsea’s men’s team were successful in that very tournament this year, defeating Manchester City in the final in Porto, and sit second favorites to win the Premier League next season at 9/2 in the football betting markets. But for the women’s team to replicate that success, it’s clear that something is missing in their quest to compete with the likes of Barcelona and Lyon.
Barcelona, by comparison, are a continental juggernaut of the highest caliber. In Spain they won the Primera División at a canter, also losing only once in 30 games, with an astonishing goal difference of +132 and only 13 goals conceded all campaign. Stifling in defense and rampant in attack, Lluís Cortés has crafted a side that will be a Champions League favorite for the next several years.
Meanwhile, Lyon, winners of an incredible five straight European titles between 2015 and 2020, figure to be a threat again next season. Downed by PSG on away goals in the quarter-finals this year, they also saw their historic streak of fourteen straight Division 1 Féminine titles come to an end at the hands of their Parisian rivals. They will be hungry for revenge next season, with England striker Nikita Parris again expected to provide goals.
A very special player. ?@FranKirby, the @PFA Players’ Player of the Year. ? pic.twitter.com/WMe8mdY8TS
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) June 7, 2021
Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, the leading scorer in the league, and Fran Kirby, third, made 55 goal contributions (37 goals, 18 assists) in 2020/21, making them one of the most dangerous strike forces in all of Europe. What doomed them in the Champions League final, however, was a lack of mental fortitude in defense.
Although Barcelona’s first two goals were thanks to a fluke deflection and controversial penalty, they later failed to clear their lines in dangerous areas and were torn to shreds by Lieke Martens. That speaks to the inexperience of Hayes’ team at the highest level – Barcelona had also endured a European humiliation at the hands of Lyon in 2019, and in their mature performance this time around, showed how far they’d come since.
For Chelsea to win a maiden Champions League, they will need to take those hard lessons on board as well.
