Bompastor 'really likes' pressure of succeeding Hayes

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says she "really likes the pressure" of succeeding Emma Hayes and "wants to build from her legacy".

Hayes left the Blues at the end of last season to take charge of the United States, after winning her fifth successive Women's Super League (WSL) title and her seventh overall.

Former Lyon boss Bompastor, 44, has won a string of domestic and European honours and says she wants to continue Chelsea's success.

Speaking in her first news conference since taking the reins, Bompastor said: "I just feel a lucky manager to have this opportunity to build from Emma and have this opportunity to show who I am as a manager but also as a person."

Hayes won 14 major honours during her 12 years in charge of Chelsea.

The Frenchwoman said she hopes to take Chelsea one step further and guide the club to their first Women's Champions League title.

"I already told everyone that we are here to win every single title, every single game, so this is why I came," she said.

Champions League trophy is 'special one'

Chelsea start their Women's Super League season at home to Aston Villa on 20 September (19:00 BST)

Bompastor said that every trophy is "very important" for the club, but called the Champions League the "special one".

Chelsea were beaten by Barcelona in the 2020-21 final and have also been knocked out by the Spanish giants in each of the past two seasons.

Bompastor comes to the club having been European champion twice as a player and once as a manager with Lyon.

"When I had the meeting with the sporting directors I said this is something really special to win the Champions League," said Bompastor.

"I think we have all the quality at this club to have this trophy at home."

She believes Chelsea have a squad capable of achieving European success - and the club have been active in the market this summer, recruiting the likes of England defender Lucy Bronze from Barcelona and France forward Sandy Baltimore from Paris St-Germain.

But she said the Blues are "still looking" at bringing in other players before the transfer window ends on 13 September.

Bompastor added: "You now how competitive the league is here, maybe one of the most competitive in the world, so it's so difficult for an English team to perform in every game.

"I'll make sure we have the good numbers and the quality to perform in every game."

Bompastor will begin her Chelsea tenure at home to Aston Villa on 20 September.

Her first WSL match at Stamford Bridge will be against league rivals Manchester City across the weekend of 15-17 November.

"I can't wait to be at that point because the atmosphere in this stadium is so special. It's one of the most famous in Europe with all the history," said Bompastor.

"I had the chance to play the Champions League final here as a player but I didn't have a great experience here as a manager, though I could feel the atmosphere.

"Now, as Chelsea manager, to have the fans with us is really special. You always want to enjoy it with them. Football is something we are all passionate about."

'I will try to use my voice' to ease fixture congestion

One difference between managing in France and England will be the difficulty of balancing tough domestic fixtures and action in Europe, said Bompastor.

"You need to perform during one week with three games, three competitive games and this is really difficult sometimes for the players to be able to perform with not a lot of recovery between the games," she said.

"This is something really different from France, because in France, the French Federation was helping the French clubs, especially the ones who are playing in the Champions League."

With Chelsea playing in four competitions - the WSL, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League - they often have to contest a cramped fixture schedule.

For example, between 31 March and the WSL ending on 18 May last season, they played a total of nine fixtures.

Bompastor said the French Federation managed domestic calendars to help teams perform in Europe and she would "use her voice" to push for beneficial changes in the English league.

"Any time we were playing a Champions League game in the middle of the week, the French Federation were the ones who are making sure we are not playing a big team in the league, just to help us to perform in the Champions League," she said.

"This is something really good, and maybe this is something we will need to work on with the FA."