KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: Lauren James of Chelsea celebrates scoring her team’s second goal during the Barclays Women’s Super League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Kingsmeadow on February 16, 2025 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor is playing England star Lauren James as a false nine against Manchester United in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup.
It follows a goal and an assist in the Barclays Women’s Super League against Liverpool last weekend.
But when asked by Karen Carney on TNT Sports about the decision to play James in that position, Bompastor replied: “You know all the quality LJ has. [False nine is] not the position she’s the best at, I think she can play in different many positions.”
And asked to pinpoint where she thought James’s best position actually was, she went on: “I would say left winger. I think that’s where I like to see her the most.
“But from what we want to achieve with the team today, I think that’s where she’s been performing, in the last game she scored a goal, she assisted also, so I am hoping for her to be able to do the same.”
Chelsea are defending champions in the competition – having beaten Manchester United in the final last season.
Chelsea v Manchester United: full line-ups
Full Chelsea line-up: Hannah Hampton, Ellie Carpenter, Veerle Buurman, Naomi Girma, Lucy Bronze, Sjoeke Nusken, Keira Walsh, Erin Cuthbert (c), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Lauren James, Alyssa Thompson.
Subs: Livia Peng, Guro Reiten, Sandy Baltimore, Wieke Kaptein, Sam Kerr, Kadeisha Buchanan, Lexi Potter, Chloe Sarwie, Aggie Beever-Jones.
Full Manchester United line-up: Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Maya Le Tissier (c), Hanna Lundkvist, Jess Park, Melvine Malard, Lisa Naalsund, Dominique Janssen, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Ellen Wangerheim, Hinata Miyazawa, Millie Turner.
Subs: Safia Middleton-Patel, Kayla Rendell, Gabby George, Jessica Anderson, Simi Awujo, Layla Drury, Lea Schuller, Elisabeth Terland.
