Chelsea Women will be represented in the final of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday morning, regardless of the outcome of the semis.
It confirms the Blues’ status as a global footballing force, and gives Chelsea fans renewed hope that the forthcoming domestic season will witness Emma Hayes’ girls lift the one prize that has eluded them so far... the Champions League trophy.
The World Cup has proved a wonderful showcase for many individual Blues; none more than Sweden keeper Zecira Musovic, who can at last stake a claim to being Chelsea’s No1 choice between the sticks after visibly growing in maturity and confidence through the competition.
Not so long ago, Musovic was in the shadow of Ann-Katrin Berger as Hayes’ first-choice net-minder. But the Swede’s glittering performances on the biggest stage of all have shunted her German rival down the pecking order at Kingsmeadow.
The Chelsea manager and former captain Magda Eriksson remain firm text buddies, and Eriksson has reaffirmed her faith, as Sweden’s lynchpin defender, in the national goalie.
Musovic played a full part in the Swedes’ 2-1 quarter-final win over the much-fancied Japan team, having excelled against South Africa in the opening fixture, then helped eliminate four-time world champs USA.
But it was that victory over Japan, just five days after playing 120 gruelling minutes against the USA, which really impressed.
Musovic has rarely put a foot wrong at Kingsmeadow, but now the 27-year-old, signed from Rosengard in 2021 following Carly Telford’s retirement, is in the perfect place to be Chelsea’s undisputed lead keeper.
It’s an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact that Musovic broke her arm while playing for the national U23 side, and had to work her way back to full fitness with a daunting programme of rehab and physio.
As Sweden’s No1 goalie following her World Cup exploits, it would seem bizarre for Chelsea to now overlook her talents as the 2023-24 season looms. After a well-earned rest for the players, the Blues will resume training ahead of the opening fixture against Spurs at the Bridge on 1 October.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s men have made a positive start to the new campaign. After restricting Liverpool to a 1-1 draw on the opening weekend, the Blues have irritated the Reds’ further by pinching prized Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo from under their noses.
The 21-year-old Ecuadorian had been set to head to Merseyside for £111m, only for the Blues to flash the cash and take him to SW6 for £115m in a powerful statement of intent by co-owner Todd Boehly.
The American, already on to his fourth Chelsea manager in a rocky year which has made Roman Abramovic’s reign look stable, watched with satisfaction from the west stand at Stamford Bridge as his team bounced back from a Luis Diaz goal to level via new signing Axel Disasi.
New gaffer Morrie Pochettino has been made welcome at the Bridge, and the Blues fully deserved a share of the spoils in a game which left fans feeling warm, positive and optimistic.
For Chelsea’s men, there’s a London derby at West Ham to savour later on Sunday afternoon. Whisper it, but it’s all starting to look rosy.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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