BARCELONA, Spain — It might be all over for Chelsea. After slumping to a 4-1 defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semifinal, they face a mammoth, almost impossible task to claw their way back into contention for a place in the final.
The Women’s Super League (WSL) leaders had only lost one game before this, a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the first leg of the quarterfinals, a scoreline they overturned to book their place in this tie.
But this time, they need to overturn a three-goal deficit after suffering their biggest defeat in 17 months — 4-1 to Arsenal in December 2023, while the club were still under the helm of former manager Emma Hayes. It will need to be their best performance, potentially ever, to make their first final since 2019.
Their quadruple hopes also lay in tatters. The Champions League has always eluded Chelsea; its place in the trophy cabinet remains empty, collecting dust after copious failed attempts. After sealing the League Cup, booking a place in the FA Cup final, and being three points clear at the top of the WSL table with a game in hand, they may win three domestic titles — an incredible feat nonetheless — but remain without the one they desire the most.
Having got the tactics right pretty much…
