Chelsea Women travel to Leicester in the league this weekend, with the significance of a Mothering Sunday fixture not lost on Melanie Leupolz, now restricted to light training after announcing her pregnancy.
The midfielder was a loyal spectator at last weekend’s cup victory over Birmingham City, cheering the goals as all five flew in – a result which now pitches Chelsea against Arsenal in the semi-finals.
How is she faring since the dramatic news broke? “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “I’m really excited.” She added that she and her boyfriend had still not picked names... which means that Magda and Pernille (her two best mates at the club) are still possibilities!
There’s was disappointment at Kingsmeadow after the late cancellation of Wednesday night’s clash with Spurs that could have carried the Blues to the top of the table. But there was also a lift when it was announced that Chelsea Women can again sell tickets for matches.
Fans can now go to the Chelsea v Reading WSL game on 3 April, and for that FA Cup semi away to the Gunners on 17 April.
Covid in the Tottenham camp was blamed for the cancellation of Wednesday's match just three hours before kick-off... a second postponement after it was called off in January.
The only bonus, as far as Blues manager Emma Hayes is concerned, is that a further delay means more of her players will be back in the reckoning for places, particularly Lauren James, who is starting to find her old form.
Mystery shrouds Fran Kirby’s current state. “She’s been tired; it’s all taken its toll,” said Hayes when asked. Kirby was in the stands for the Birmingham match, but is not expected to travel to Leicester on Sunday lunchtime.
Hayes still believes this Women’s Super League will go right to the wire, but she laughed off the suggestion that the scheduled final game of the season – at home to Manchester United – was even in her thoughts as there is so much football to be played before then.
Beth England’s brace against Birmingham City in the FA Cup has given her the lift she badly needed after losing her starting place to the likes of Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder.
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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