United States women’s national team (USWNT) forward Alyssa Thompson has praised Chelsea for developing her game since signing for the Women’s Super League (WSL) reigning champions in September but admitted that the upcoming League Cup final has added more pressure on a team that is expected to win.
Holders Chelsea face Manchester United in the final on Sunday in Bristol aiming to claim their first piece of silverware this season.
After winning the domestic treble last season with ease, the narrative is different heading into this tie after Chelsea faced an uncharacteristic dip in form and could lose their WSL crown, something they’ve kept for the past six seasons.
“Chelsea wins a lot of trophies and we’re expected to. So this [League Cup] is just another trophy that we’re expected to win,” Thompson told ESPN.
“I feel like in everything we do and all the cups that we’re in, we need to win so we’re just continuing that mentality and knowing that that’s a staple for Chelsea and taking that into the game.
“I think winning this cup would be really special. And also for our run and Champions League, I think it will just give everyone a lot of confidence, give our team a lot of confidence. And I feel like we need that right now,” she added.
The Blues faced their first back-to-back losses since 2018 after losing 2-0 to Arsenal followed by a 5-1 humbling by Manchester City in the league. The results could leave the reigning six-time WSL winners outside of European qualification for the first time in over five years.
They also have a battle for the Champions League title, the one trophy that has eluded them, facing Arsenal in the quarterfinal before a semifinal clash with either eight-time winners OL Lyonnes or former winner Wolfsburg.
Chelsea are still in the running for four trophies, including the Champions League, though the WSL is almost out of their grasp. They are nine points behind leader Manchester City on course for their first title in a decade, ramping up the pressure on the holders.
Thompson admitted that she’s been on a learning curve moving to Chelsea, the first time she’s ever moved away from home after leaving home-town club Angel City. She skipped going to college, instead being the first pick of the NWSL draft in 2023, straight out of high school.
“I feel like Chelsea is a very different club than what I came from, and they are expected to win and there’s a lot of pressure on us. We just have a different pressure that we need to uphold.”
Thompson expressed that the pressure she felt at Angel City wasn’t comparable to that at Chelsea — especially navigating the dip in form — but noted her experiences with USWNT as good preparation to enter into Chelsea’s high-stakes environment.
– England, Arsenal star Chloe Kelly honoured with special edition Barbie doll
– Lucy Bronze biography, titles, records and career accolades
– Chelsea in Women’s Champions League: Fixtures, results, news
She made her national team debut in October 2022 becoming the youngest player at the time since Sophia Smith (2017) to feature for the four-time World Cup winners. She has been a regular feature for former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes who now leads the USWNT.
“We try to come together and are able to see what we can do and how we can do together. I feel like I definitely learned what it means to be in an environment like this and how people react and quickly have to move on,” Thompson said.
She added that she’s learned to not think about the expectations in order to remain focused on her goals.
“I feel like I try not to think about [the pressure],” she added. “If I do, then I will feel it. But if I don’t think about it, then I feel like all I can do is control what I do on the field, control the energy I bring to the team. And that helps me a lot stay grounded.”
Despite only arriving in West London in September, Thompson has already credited Chelsea’s environment with helping her grow as a player. At Angel City she was often the central focus, which meant she relied heavily on instinct. At Chelsea, however, the emphasis on collective movement and synchronicity has pushed her to think more deliberately about her decision-making and positioning on the pitch.
“I feel like firstly, my first touch and passing to the players — I didn’t really think about it as much as I do now,” she said. “The people on our team expect the ball straight to their foot, to the right foot. That’s something I need to get better at, and I think I’ve already improved a little bit.”
The shift has also sharpened her understanding of the game. Playing alongside teammates with strong tactical awareness has encouraged her to keep developing that aspect of her play.
“I feel like my understanding of the game has definitely gotten better than before, but I still want to keep growing in that area,” she said. “We have so many amazing players on the team who understand the game so well. I also think my shooting and finishing has improved a lot. I’m more clinical in front of goal and have a better range of shots.”
Being surrounded by Chelsea’s world-class depth has also accelerated her development, she added.
“Even just watching training when I’m on the sidelines, I’m like: ‘These players are so good.’ Being able to play with them every day makes me feel like I’m getting better just from training, which is amazing.”
And it’s Lauren James who she watches the most in training, picking up tidbits from the Lioness’ game to implement into her own.
