Sonia Bompastor ready to usher Chelsea into ‘new era’

Sonia Bompastor insists she is embracing the pressure of succeeding Emma Hayes as she ushers Chelsea into a “new era”.

The 44-year-old former Lyon boss, who was appointed on a four-year contract in May, has her eye on a prize Hayes never secured in her 12-year tenure: a Champions League trophy.

Bompastor, who was capped 156 times by France, will first lead the Blues on a tour of America against Gotham FC in New Jersey on Monday followed by Arsenal at Audi Field in Washington DC six days later.

“I mean, I’m used to (the pressure), being a former player and manager at Lyon,” she said.

“Emma did a really great job, I just want to build on her legacy. I feel such a lucky manager to have this opportunity after Emma and to show who I am as a manager and a person.

“The pressure is something I really like because it makes me better. I will try really hard to make sure I support them, make this club successful. I already told everyone I am here to win every single title and every single game – that is why I came.”

Bompastor was born into a footballing family in Blois, France. With a referee dad and a brother who also played, her love for the sport came naturally.

She joined Lyon for the first time in 2006, then went on to win back-to-back top-flight titles in 2007 and 2008 as well as the Coupe de France in her second season.

The trip to Washington will bring back fond memories for the Frenchwoman, who in 2009 was invited to be part of the newly-created Women’s Professional Soccer Championship side Washington Freedom.

It was there she met Hayes, the woman she would succeed at Stamford Bridge, when the Londoner was a member of the coaching staff.

Hayes has already made a flying start in her new post as the US women’s national team head coach, leading the Americans to Olympic gold with a 1-0 victory over Brazil on Saturday.

Bompastor said: “Yes, what an achievement. I was so happy for Emma. She was supporting me coming in as a new manager for Chelsea.

“When I played in the US she was my assistant coach. We have worked with each other. I feel like we have been around each other.

“She has just left, I am the one coming now to Chelsea. To win a gold medal is a great achievement. I am really happy for her. I hope I follow the same road.”

Bompastor rejoined Lyon in 2010 after a brief loan spell at Paris St Germain and in 2013 retired as captain on her 33rd birthday after 169 appearances for the club, with whom she won back-to-back Champions League trophies in 2011 and 2012.

She worked in Lyon’s academy for the next eight years and in 2021 was promoted to women’s first-team boss, becoming the first woman to lead what were then already 14-time French champions.

She claimed a league and European double during her first full season in charge, becoming the first person to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League as both a player and a manager.

She said: “From the club you can just feel there is a lot of ambitions. Every trophy is very important but the UWCL is a special one. At the moment the club had success in the past but maybe this is the one that’s missing.

“I think we have all the infrastructure to win it. We have to work really hard to make sure we get there. I can’t wait to start this competition as it’s a really special one.”

Bompastor inherits a Blues side that has already signed Spanish midfielder Julia Bartel and French duo Sandy Baltimore and Oriane Jean-Francois.

England defender Lucy Bronze, a five-time Champions League winner, also joins the Blues after leaving Barcelona.

Bompastor added: “We are looking to build a squad able to perform at every stage of the season because we have so many games. It’s a new era with new faces in the squad.

“At the moment I am quite happy with the squad. We are still looking.”