Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor expressed deep frustration after her side opened their UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw away to FC Twente, immediately labelling the result “not a good result at all.”
Despite dominating possession and creating a host of opportunities in Enschede, the Blues lacked the clinical edge to secure the win, conceding a goal against the run of play before settling for a penalty-salvaged point.
Speaking to the media post-match, Bompastor made her high expectations clear: “It’s not a good result at all. We wanted to start this new Champions League campaign with three points, especially in the league phase where every single point is vital for qualification.”
While disappointed with the final score, the coach found some positives in the team’s structure, particularly away from the ball.
“Tonight, out of possession I am quite happy with the team’s effort, even if we conceded a goal,” she noted. “We want to be an aggressive team, we want to play a high block, and we are willing to take those risks. I don’t think Twente created a lot, but once is enough for them to score a wonderful goal, and we were punished.”
However, the French coach was scathing in her assessment of her team’s finishing, pinpointing the final third as the area of gravest concern. She demanded greater desire and execution in front of goal. ”
The real issue was in possession and in the box. When you play at this level, you need to show more desire and precision to finish the opportunities you create,” Bompastor lamented. “We created a lot of clear-cut chances and yet we could only score one.
“To reach our goal, we must perform at a higher, more clinical standard than we displayed tonight.”