At the double: how Chelsea crushed “disappointing” Bristol City to claim consecutive cup titles

The 2021 Continental Cup final saw two teams at differing ends of the WSL face off against each other for the first silverware of the season. Chelsea Women were looking for their eighth major trophy, and were the defending champions, having beaten Arsenal Women in last year’s tournament. The majority of Bristol City Women’s squad, meanwhile, have never been to a major final before, so this was an opportunity for them to go out and show what they can do. This tactical analysis will look at how Chelsea were able to dominate the game, which took place at Vicarage Road, home of EFL side Watford, helping them to win by a record-breaking margin. The analysis will also look at the tactics interim manager Matt Beard has introduced since temporarily replacing Tanya Oxtoby, who is on maternity leave.

Lineups

Bristol City Women changed from the 4-2-3-1 formation that they used against Reading Women last weekend into a 3-5-2, with three changes being made to their starting XI. Defender Laura Rafferty, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion Women, and midfielders Aimee Palmer and Molly Pike, the latter of whom is on loan from Everton Women, made way. In their places, Bristol brought in on-loan teenage Reading defender Kiera Skeels at the back, whilst Australia midfielder Ella Mastrantonio and Emma Bissell came into the midfield. Belgium forward Yana Daniels and right-back Faye Bryson operated as the wing-backs, with Charlie Wellings playing alongside new England striker Ebony Salmon in attack.

Chelsea Women, meanwhile, made four changes of their own from their midweek Champions League draw at Atletico Madrid Femenino. Striker Beth England was ruled out with concussion sustained in that game, whilst Ji So-yun, Niamh Charles and Pernille Harder all dropped to the bench. Into the team came captain Magdalena Eriksson, who started alongside Maren Mjelde, Millie Bright and Jonna Andersson in their usual first-choice defensive line, whilst midfielders Jessie Fleming and Guro Reiten played as the wingers, and Sophie Ingle came into central midfield. Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby operated as the front two, giving Chelsea a fearsome-looking attack.