Chelsea have demonstrated their capacity to secure victories through multiple approaches during their strong start to the 2026-27 season. According to BBC Sport, the Blues remain unbeaten across all competitions, sit level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Women's Super League after seven matches, and have accumulated seven points from their opening three Champions League league-phase fixtures.
Manager Sonia Bompastor's squad delivered a commanding 2-0 performance against Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, extending their impressive form. This victory comes after a challenging 2025-26 campaign in which Chelsea surrendered their domestic dominance, losing both the WSL and FA Cup titles while suffering a quarter-final exit from European competition at the hands of Arsenal.
The contrast with their previous season is stark. Following an unbeaten campaign that yielded a domestic treble in Bompastor's inaugural year, last term exposed vulnerabilities in the French coach's evolving system. However, the current trajectory suggests Chelsea have addressed those shortcomings and are now operating at an elevated level.
How are Chelsea winning in different ways?
Chelsea's dominance over Roma was evident from the opening stages, though they squandered numerous opportunities in the first half before breaking through after the interval. According to Chelsea's official match report, Ellie Carpenter scored six minutes after her half-time introduction, with Wieke Kaptein providing the assist. Kadeisha Buchanan then secured the result by heading in from a Kaptein corner in the 89th minute, with ESPN's coverage noting that Carpenter and Sjoeke Nüsken replaced Alyssa Thompson and Lauren James at the interval.
Bompastor praised her team's adaptability and clinical finishing.
I'm really pleased with the results for sure, but not only the results, I think the different performances. Right now, the way we are performing gives us a really good advantage and a big chance to win games.
The manager also highlighted their defensive resilience.
I'm really pleased with the solid performances in terms of the defensive aspects. We have played three games and we haven't conceded. When you want to go far in competitions, it's good to have this solid base. With the quality we have in the team, I'm confident we will always create opportunities.
Chelsea's defensive record has been a marked improvement from last season's vulnerabilities. Roma registered no shots on target in the first half, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton maintained a clean sheet for a third consecutive European match. This solidity, combined with their attacking prowess, has made them formidable opponents.
The squad's tactical flexibility has been crucial to their success. They operate effectively in both a back three and back four formation, can transition quickly through goalkeeper Hannah Hampton's distribution, and possess multiple goal-scoring threats. Full-back Carpenter has netted four goals across all competitions, England international Lauren James is performing at an exceptional level, and young midfielder Lexi Potter has developed a productive understanding with Lionesses star Keira Walsh.
Bompastor acknowledged the step up in quality presented by European competition.
The Champions League was a different level to what they had already overcome in the WSL.Yet Chelsea have managed this transition effectively through intelligent squad rotation and tactical adjustments.
The manner of their Roma victory demonstrated growth from the previous campaign.
Even when we opened the competition against Austria Vienna, it was a tough game because they were brave and exposed us to some challenges. We found a way to win, but obviously we want to control every game as much as we can, no matter what competition it is. Tonight and on Sunday we rotated the team a little bit. We find different ways to impose ourselves in the game and to score goals. That's good.
What changed from last season's disappointment?
Manchester City's dominant WSL title win last season created an expectation that Chelsea would swiftly reclaim their crown. However, Bompastor cautioned against assuming an immediate return to their previous heights, pointing to significant squad departures and the ongoing adjustment to her coaching philosophy.
The departures of key players including Sam Kerr, Millie Bright and Guro Reiten represented a substantial loss of experience and quality. Bompastor explained the broader context of her transition.
You need to consider the fact that Chelsea had the same coach for 12 years. It takes a while for players to adjust to a new coach, a new way of playing and a philosophy. Even if you have really good players, it doesn't just go like this. There are a lot of things we are doing behind the scenes for us to stay successful. I was lucky enough to come in when [Hayes] left the team in a really good place. But last season we had a year where a lot of important players left.
Despite the manager's measured outlook, captain Erin Cuthbert expressed confidence in the squad's trajectory.
We had a good time to build in pre-season and a good trip away. The quality was always there, we just weren't clicking. Manchester City ran away with the league in the end, but we were there or thereabouts. I feel this time the team's just gone up another level.
Beyond tactical improvements and defensive solidity, Chelsea have invested effort in rebuilding squad culture and mentality. Cuthbert noted the positive atmosphere within the group ahead of the Roma fixture, describing
really good momentum and a good feelingin the camp.
Bompastor emphasised the importance of these intangible factors.
For me, the mental aspects and cultural aspects are just as important. We probably needed to rebuild a little bit of that going into this new season. We reflected a lot on how we wanted to set up the process for that. Right now, we are in a good place. When you are able to get good results, it's not only about the tactical aspects. It also has to be about mentality, culture and values. I think we have clarity on where we want to go as a team and how we want to get there, and that's just as important.
What lies ahead for Chelsea?
Chelsea's next Champions League assignment will take them to Sweden, where they are scheduled to visit Häcken on 10 November for their fourth league-phase match. Their current position at the summit of the league phase, pending other results, places them in a strong position to progress through the competition's new format.
The combination of improved defensive organisation, tactical flexibility, attacking potency, and restored squad cohesion suggests Chelsea have genuinely turned a corner from their disappointing 2025-26 campaign. Whether they can sustain this momentum across both domestic and European competitions will determine whether this season represents a genuine return to their previous dominance or merely a temporary resurgence.
