Why Keira Walsh is still hopeful for a “special” Chelsea season

Chelsea's Keira Walsh
Chelsea’s Keira Walsh

Keira Walsh says there is plenty for Chelsea to play for this season – starting with the Subway Women’s League Cup final on Sunday.

The Blues will face Manchester United at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, in a rematch of last season’s Women’s FA Cup final.

The defending Women’s Super League champions have had some disappointing results in the league, leaving them in third place and nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City – but they still have three chances of silverware.

And the England midfielder says that if they lift all three trophies, it will be a successful campaign altogether.

“It’s very difficult to win the league every year consecutively,” she said to BBC Sport. “It’s almost unheard of, that’s what is special about Chelsea.

“We still have the [Subway Women’s League] Cup, the FA Cup and Champions League. If we win all three, that will still be a special season.”

Alyssa Thompson: Winning is part of Chelsea DNA

Her team-mate Alyssa Thompson added that the high expectations at the club were a big attraction for her to sign.

“Winning at Chelsea is written in the DNA,” Thompson said. “That’s why people come here and one of the reasons I did. It’s a huge part of our culture.

“When you put on the Chelsea jersey, you know what you have to bring. No-one has told me that but I feel it from the team.

“It’s unspoken in the locker room.”

However, the 21-year-old also felt nerves on arrival, explaining: “I had low expectations for myself because I was scared about being in England, away from everyone I knew. I didn’t know if people would like me.

“It was daunting because of the calibre of players at Chelsea.”

And she went on to say that she is particularly looking forward to being part of a cup final occasion: “I’m so excited. I’ve never won a senior trophy!”

Upcoming Events

Would you like to read more women’s football news just like this? Sign up to receive the She Kicks Women’s Football newsletter

About Carrie Dunn 693 Articles
Carrie Dunn is a women's football writer. Her book 'Unsuitable for Females' was shortlisted for Football Book of the Year at the 2023 Sports Book Awards, and more recently 'Woman Up' was nominated for the 2024 Vikki Orvice Award for Women's Sport Writing. Her newest book 'Flying the Flag: The Footballing Heroines of the Home Nations Who Made History Abroad' is out now.