Picture this. When Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United after managing the club for 26 seasons, Old Trafford became an eerie place. The club crumbled under pressure and, since then, they have not replicated the glory years in the 2000s. The players found it hard to cope with the stress and suddenly, United became a tough place. It is natural for players to feel the need to replicate their previous performance when a longstanding manager leaves the club. Just ask Sam Kerr when Emma Hayes left the club.

In a recent interview with Optus Sport, Sam Kerr detailed the void left by the British manager, who left for the USWNT. She stayed in Chelsea for 12 years, having unparalleled success. She was what Sir Alex Ferguson was for Chelsea for several seasons. Hence, Kerr explained, feeling a ‘bit weird’ when the manager left the club. Sam Kerr joined Chelsea in 2020 and she won 8 major trophies up until now. Hayes developed her into Australia’s fearless striker and she dominated almost every game.

It’s natural to feel low when you have a perfect relationship with a manager who raised your bar!

A similar situation happened with Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool this summer. Emma Hayes, though, left Chelsea to manage USWNT and instantly won the Olympic gold medal in Paris. Well, the soccer system is like a conveyor belt. Managers come and go. But things look promising for Chelsea now with the new coach, Sonia Bompastor.

Hayes mentioned, “Sonia’s come in and done really well to implement her own personality on the team, and we’re all enjoying it so far. First of all, she’s French, and she’s very French, and I think she’s got a good balance of having a joke and having a laugh, but also quite strict and to the point, which I think we like and we needed. I think she seems really, really good and really tough, in a good way.”

Sonia Bompastor needs to impress Sam Kerr and Co!

It’s never easy when you replace Hayes who stayed at the club for a long time. The constant comparisons make your job more challenging. Hence, Bompastor has to hit the ground running. Having spent three seasons in Lyon, Sonia Bompastor comes in with much fanfare. She signed a four-year contract with the club and we can expect changes in the London club. The French coach has a rich history in soccer and one must step back and take notice.

Significantly, Bompastor made 156 caps for the French national team and took a coaching position with Lyon’s academy in 2013. She won the Division 1 Feminine title for the past three seasons, similar to Emma Hayes’ five league titles in a row. The manager also led Lyon to a European double and became the first player to win the trophy as a player and a head coach.

Yes, Bompastor’s resume sounds pompous!

But soccer is much more than that. One can be on top of the world but could come crashing down if you don’t get the pulse of the squad. Hopefully, she can carry on Hayes’ legacy and lead Chelsea to a European title after their 2021 disappointment.