Lucy Bronze Reflects on Chelsea's Champions League Opener

Lucy Bronze, Chelsea defender acknowledged the team’s 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in their Women’s Champions League opener as a solid start but emphasized the need for improvement to contend for the title. The England international, who has won five European titles with Lyon and Barcelona, pointed out that while Chelsea controlled the game, they allowed Real Madrid back into contention by conceding easily.

“We were the better team and played well in spells, but we let them back in the game when we should have sealed our win at 3-1,” Bronze stated. She highlighted the importance of capitalizing on opportunities, warning that teams in the Champions League can swiftly punish defensive mistakes. Chelsea’s manager, Sonia Bompastor celebrated her first Champions League win in charge but noted the challenges they faced.

The match came after a 10-day gap without competitive play which affected the players’ intensity on the field. Bompastor remarked, “We need to play with a lot of intensity. I don’t want to make excuses but not playing for 10 days might explain our lack of energy.” Bompastor stressed the importance of game management, calling for a smarter approach to maintaining leads.

“When you start with a two-goal advantage, it’s crucial to keep that result. We were a bit nervous about Madrid growing stronger and need to manage the game better,” she said. Despite the areas needing improvement, Lucy Bronze remains confident in Chelsea’s potential, noting that the squad has previously defeated top European teams and is poised to build on their successes as the season progresses.