Chelsea's season so far: Hit and miss

How the Blues have fared at the halfway mark — and whether the Champions League is finally within reach

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Chelsea go into the winter break second in the WSL, six points behind league leaders Manchester City, who are also their semi-final opponents in the League Cup.

In the UWCL, the Blues ended the league phase unbeaten in third position, behind Barcelona and Lyon, securing automatic qualification for the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the tie between Arsenal and OH Leuven.

The season so far

For a team that has remained unbeaten against Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Wolfsburg, Chelsea’s season has been far from perfect. Domestically, it was always going to be impossible to top last season’s dominance and treble win, but the campaign has been a rollercoaster ride so far, with the Blues playing some of their best football under Sonia Bompastor as well as some of their worst.

In the big games mentioned above, Chelsea have been the better side, despite not always coming away with all three points. However, they have dropped points against teams you would not expect them to, drawing with Liverpool and FC Twente before losing to Everton at their Kingsmeadow fortress – a result that ended a 34-game domestic unbeaten run.

The biggest concern has been the lack of goals this season, which has made wins feel unconvincing and created an air of anxiety among fans. However, the Blues appear to have put those struggles to bed, scoring 20 goals in their last four matches. Sam Kerr has found her shooting boots, new parent Guro Reiten is providing assists again, new signing Alyssa Thompson has found her feet and the "X-Factor" Lauren James is back fit again.

Early-season injuries are certainly a reason for Chelsea’s unconvincing performances, but the squad looks in a much better place now. That final 9-1 win over Liverpool did come at a cost, however, with Aggie Beever-Jones picking up an ankle injury. The England international was seen in a protective boot at full-time, suggesting at least a few weeks out.

At the other end of the pitch, Bompastor has constantly switched between a back three, a back four and everything in between, with the defenders taking up hybrid positions in and out of possession. Wing-backs Ellie Carpenter and Sandy Baltimore have been standout performers and, despite some fitness issues, Naomi Girma is now playing up to her “Secretary of Defence” nickname.

Goalkeeper of the Year, Hannah Hampton, also missed several weeks through injury, which made the defence less solid, but she is fit again and ready to hit the ground running in the new year. Livia Peng has done well to deputise, but it is no coincidence that Chelsea’s poor run of form occurred during the England international’s absence.

What do Chelsea need in January?

Chelsea’s best defender this season, Nathalie Björn, has been sidelined with a serious hamstring injury. With Millie Bright’s form declining and Kadeisha Buchanan still no closer to returning from an ACL injury, the back line is stretched. Lucy Bronze has been filling in as a third centre-back and youngster Veerle Buurman has impressed in limited game time. Depending on the extent of Björn’s injury and Buchanan’s recovery timeline, the Blues may look to add another centre-back in January, though Sjoeke Nüsken has proven she can fill in when needed.

In attack, Beever-Jones’ potential injury could mean the WSL champions are once again light up top, with Mayra Ramírez also still sidelined and no clear timeline for her return. When asked about the January transfer window, Bompastor said: “As Chelsea, we are always looking in the transfer window because that’s what we need to do. We will see if we have some good opportunities, but I am also pleased with the squad.”

One thing Chelsea fans should be cautious of heading into the second half of the season is the risk of departure for players such as Nüsken and Maika Hamano, who have not featured as much as they would have liked. The club also faces difficult decisions regarding contract renewals for senior players including Millie Bright, Guro Reiten, Lucy Bronze and Sam Kerr, all of whose contracts end this summer. New deals for Hampton and Beever-Jones can also be expected.

Targets for the second half of the season?

The target for Chelsea remains the same until it is achieved: win the Champions League. The other trophies matter, but they don’t matter like this one. The Champions League has evaded Chelsea for too long, and this may be their best shot at lifting the trophy. Bompastor has already shown this season that the Blues can go toe-to-toe with Barcelona in a one-off game, and with the UWCL draw shaping up so the two sides will not meet before the final (should they make it), Chelsea have a real chance of making the final this year. They will need to take it one step at a time, though, and face (most likely) the holders, Arsenal, in the quarter-final.

With Manchester City not playing UWCL football this season, their attention will be solely on ending Chelsea’s WSL dynasty. The Citizens are in a good spot to do so, six points clear going into the winter break. Superstars Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Vivianne Miedema are all fit, but we have been in this position before, with Chelsea always turning up the heat during the run-in. If City can keep their players fit, they would be favourites to win the WSL, especially if the Blues find themselves with a real chance of winning the Champions League.

Will you be amending your pre-season prediction?

In my pre-season preview, I predicted a WSL and UWCL double for Chelsea. I do think that without European football Man City will lift the WSL this season, but I am still backing Chelsea to win the Champions League. Additionally, I think Chelsea will also go back-to-back in the FA Cup.