Football Daily - Chelsea and Arsenal reach Women's Champions League semi-finals

Episode Date: March 28, 2025

Eleanor Oldroyd presents reaction from Stamford Bridge alongside Gilly Flaherty, Rachel Corsie and Jonathan Pearce as Chelsea overturn a first-leg deficit to beat Manchester City and reach the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League.Hear from Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor and Manchester City interim boss Nick Cushing.Plus a look back on Arsenal's stirring comeback win at the Emirates against Real Madrid on Wednesday, with reaction from striker Alessia Russo who scored twice.And the panel discuss both Chelsea and Arsenal's chances of reaching the final, with European giants Barcelona and Lyon standing in their way.Football commentaries this week:Saturday 29th March FA CUP: Fulham v Crystal Palace 1215 KO - Conor McNamara and Mark Schwarzer. SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP: Celtic v Hearts 1500 KO - Ian Dennis and Pat Nevin. FA CUP: Brighton v Nottingham Forest 1715 KO - Chris Wise and Michael Brown.Sunday 30th March FA CUP: Preston North End v Aston Villa 1330 KO - John Murray and Leon Osman. WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE: Chelsea v West Ham 1630 KO - LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA

BBC sounds music radio podcasts The Football Daily podcast Listen on BBC sounds Hello and welcome to a bonus Football Daily podcast with me Eleanor Oldroyd as Chelsea roar past Manchester City to join Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League. A first half blitz from Chelsea helping them to a 3-0 win on the night. 3-2 on aggregate. Arsenal produced a remarkable comeback of their own to see off

Real Madrid at the Emirates last night. We will talk about that later and hear from Alessia Russo. Let's start here at Stanford Bridge. I am joined by former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Julie Flaherty, Aston Villa and Scotland's Rachel Corsi and Jonathan Pearce who commentated on the game for us here on Five Live and Jonathan, Chelsea were all over City from the first whistle. Blistering first half, they took the lead, Sandy Baltimore after 14 minutes after Lucy Bronze had hit the woodwork, Bjorn moments after,

she'd also hit the frame of the goal, headed powerfully in six minutes before the break and moments later it was three Maya Ramirez who was a real powerhouse up front rather scuffing a shot but three nil they turned the tie around they led it for the first time they have the energy routine Canterbury on the right hand side Vika Kaptajian at the heart of midfield with Erin Cuthbert and Kira Walsh behind her they were the better side yes Manchester City have won or two chances. Fowler pulled a good save out of Hannah Hampton and Vivienne Amidamar struck wide.

And as she struck wide, Nick Cushing, the Manchester City manager, rose on the bench. He thought that was their moment, that they'd tied the tie. It wasn't to be. Chelsea go through to play Barcelona for the third time in a row.

Well, before the game, the Chelsea manager, Sonja Bonpasta said, we need to embrace the challenge and make a strong start. We have to put all our strengths into the game. And I mean, Gilly, they really did that from the get-go, didn't they? Yeah, they most certainly did that. I think for minute one, you could see

they was on the front foot. You know, they was going in pairs. No one was going in isolation. They all knew exactly what the game plan was. And it was to unsettle city really and not allow them to get into a rhythm. And you know, it could have been more, it could have been looking at five or six, but you know, I think for them, it was key that they went in at halftime, free new up as well, getting that all important third goal just before the break. Effectively, it killed off city and it's hard going in a half time. He was too new up when the game started and obviously then you're going in 3-2.

It makes it all difficult in the second half. We were talking about the fact there was four back-to-back games, or was it quadrilogy, I think is the word. I don't know whether it's a word or not, but anyway, it's what we were calling it. So four back-to-back games between Chelsea and Man City. And the previous three have been pretty close, pretty tight. I mean, City mugging Chelsea, obviously, in the first half of this tie at the Etihad. But what was the difference, Rachel, tonight, do you think?

I honestly think it was the emotion of the game, and Chelsea were just far better prepared and far, I suppose, just had more experience of handling games under this sort of pressure and finding a way to get a result. And I felt it was a difficult position I think for City to come into because 2-0 it's uncomfortable, they conceded within what, 20 minutes and then you know you're really under pressure and it's really hard to switch that momentum in that moment. You could see Nick pushing, sort of waving his hands to say calm down but knowing what it's like against a Chelsea coming down your throat over and over and over, you feel like you're in the washing machine. It's not easy to calm down, it's not easy to have the ball at your feet and think straight and make a pass quickly under pressure in the right moment. So

I felt Chelsea used that experience incredibly well and it was really difficult to even see a standout player because all of the Chelsea players felt like they were on today. Yeah and they're serial winners as well, aren't they? They know, they're still on for a, well not a quadrilogy but a quadruple. Yeah, I mean they are and I think every year they just strengthen and they get even harder to beat. I think this has been the one of the highlight story for Chelsea because obviously losing Emma Hayes, like I said before the game as

well is that no one knew really what to expect of Chelsea and how they was going to react to losing such a big figure for the club. And you know, and I think bomb past oil coming in and it was, how is she going to adapt to the WSL? How is she going to fit in? How are the players going to react to to her as well? Because there's players that would play for the whole time underneath Emma Hayes. And she just seems to what seemed impossible in lifting Chelsea to a new level. She's done that with ease.

And I think she's been there, she's done that, she's won everything. You just see the respect that the girls give her, but the work rate of this Chelsea team has probably been the hardest that I've seen over the years. I think she's got the winning mentality in this. Emma Hayes hadn't won this, the players knew it was a nagging doubt at the back of minds. And Sonja von Passau comes in having won it three times as a manager, as a player and also as a manager. They know, she knows the way to win this. And I think that has made a big difference

to their tournament this season. I think the strength from the bench tonight made a big difference. The fact that Manchester City could only name four outfield players on the bench, I just don't think they had the options to change it up and push for a winner, whereas Chelsea knew they could bring on fresh legs.

They had their moments, didn't they, City? I mean, they were absolutely, yeah completely, there was complete onslaught from Chelsea in the first half. But City came back into it in, you know kind of halfway through that first half and then they kind of matched them shot for shot in the second half.

They did but I think in the nature of these games, you know Chelsea already had that 3-0 advantage and sometimes, you know, that almost is why I think they probably then looked more matched up because at that point Chelsea didn't need to quite be as aggressive on the front foot. They were quite happy to say, let's compete, continue competing, stay in the front foot, make it difficult in the midfield areas and know that they would get chances on not necessarily on the counter-attack more just on those transitional moments when they do win it in that midfield area and they know the

threat the front three carry they've got different threats. Canard with her pace, James with just that guile and skill and trickery and you know confidence that she has and I felt Chelsea just leaned into every attribute that they had and even though Man City came back into it, Hannah Hampton didn't really have a save. The medium I shot towards the end was probably the only time you saw her scamper across the goal and it's sneaked just wide of the post but otherwise she didn't have that much to do and then collect a few crosses. You would talk about

Bjorn having a good game, but more so in the Man City box offset pieces. Bright was fairly comfortable. I didn't feel like Lucy Bronze really felt, you know, she didn't have probably her best game in terms of on the ball, but she she's such a competitor. She just thought I just have to compete tonight and I'll be fine. And if you're going to play Chelsea and get a result over two legs, I think you need to just have the ability to cause them a few more problems.

I felt unfortunately tonight it just didn't quite work for City in that capacity. They hit the woodwork three times. If you want to have one cleared off the line in the first half, they could have five or six. Manchester City might have had the one metre-mile shot wide and there was the one save wasn't there from Fowler, but I think Chelsea were dominant. For me, something they encapsulated right at the end was that Jess Park ran into the, had a possible breakaway due to the dying moment she scores, the game goes to extra time, she carried it deep inside the Chelsea half and for me there was not one moment of belief in her that she was going to score a set of a goal at that moment and Chelsea from minute one believed they were going to turn this tire out. Well, let's hear from the Chelsea boss, Sonja Bonpaster now.

I'm allowing myself to just enjoy. I think, you know, sometimes in football, you work really hard. You sometimes get good results, sometimes not. But I think tonight was a perfect night for us. Being able again to play at Stamford Bridge with our fans and being able to turn things around. Again, I'm really proud of my players and it was a difficult challenge, but we believed it was possible. And I think this belief was something really strong in our side and maybe made the difference. The mental aspects in terms of

performance are sometimes more than 70-80% of the performance and the results so I think tonight it was part of the game obviously was also to have this belief, to have these mental strengths going into the game and just to think it was possible to achieve that even if again the challenge was tough because as you could see we faced Man City four times when you have to play the same team four times in 12 days, that's a really big, big, big challenge. And yeah, I just want to mention, I think City did very well in these four games against us.

And yeah, I just have a small thinking about them because I know they had some injuries and maybe it was something who went more in our side because they didn't have all their squad. Well, before this run of four games against Chelsea, Man City took a bit of a gamble by sacking Gareth Taylor and bringing in Nick Cushing. It's not quite had the desired effect, just the FA Cup left to save their season. How much do you think, Julie, this is going to affect Man City for the rest of the season now? Because they were, you know, they had

it in their hands going into this game. Yeah, I mean, they've just ultimately they've fell short when it comes to the second leg but I just feel with City it's really hard I feel that they've got a really strong 11 at the moment but it's when it goes into the later stages of the game they don't have that that squad at the moment I think Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemm have been such a huge miss for them this year. Bunny Shaw as well. Yeah and I just feel like those of them players that you know Lauren Hem, she can create something out of nothing and I think to Lou Shaw as well who's such a presence, such a handful for centre backs, injuries haven't been kind to them and you know it's difficult

because Nick Cushing's come in at a time when he's at the transfer window, he can't really do anything, he has to just work with the squad that he's at is he's at the transfer window. He can't really do anything. He has to just work with the score that he's got. He's been chucked into four games against Chelsea. You know, it's not a kind an appointment at a time and wise, but you know, if anyone can get the best out of these players, it's going to be Nick Kushner who knows the club and who's won before for City and can install that and you know, for them now they'll

have to be trying to get as high as they can up the league table as well and hope that teams up above them drop points so they can then get back into the Champions League. And obviously then, NFA can't be still a huge trophy to potentially bring back to your club. Well, let's hear from Nick Cushing now. It is the ultimate test when you play the best team, the most consistent, informed team. It shows you where you're at, right? But it's also difficult for me to say where you're at, right? But it's

also difficult for me to say where we're at because we have so many key players missing. But that's not an excuse. I'm proud of the group. We've shown that the togetherness and the fight and the spirit and the determination is there. We've caused Chelsea real problems in all four games. We've lost on moments but yeah, you know with so much stress on the group to still have, to still be in it and pushing it for me shows the character this group has and you know I'm proud of the group. Rachel I wonder who you think the best person is to lead City forward next season because I mean if there is a possibility they don't make

Champions League I mean that's a big blow for a club with the, well, I mean, not the long history, as Jonathan was pointing out, but certainly the success that they've had in recent years. Yeah, and you would, you know, it'll feel especially disappointing if they don't get Europe, especially after how far they've come in this competition and feeling, you know, they would have felt optimistic

ahead of tonight that they would have progressed again into the semi-finals. And to think they might not be there for the players that they have and you know just how long they've been one of those sides have sat within certainly at least the, you know at one point they were the top team, they've been consistently within that top three, now we obviously know sort of the big four as they go by but to finish fourth of those four I know will be bitterly disappointing for the club because you know the minimum expectation is to finish within those spots and

you know there's a financial impact as well not just in terms of you know the other players will feel that there's that too that that means a lot to the club and allows them to keep pushing in it and driving forward. Well the holders Barcelona will be Chelsea's opponents in the semis they thrashed Wolfsburg 6-1 tonight 10-2 on aggregate. On that evidence, I mean, they still the team to beat Jonathan? I mean, Chelsea have not done that for the last few years. I think however good Chelsea were in the first half, they were poor in the first half of the first leg, Barcelona remain a higher

level. They're the best team in Europe and that's no fluke. And it would be an immensely difficult task for Chelsea to turn them over over the two legs. But the second leg is at home and that could be decisive. I'm Alistair Bruce Ball. I'm John Murray. And I'm Ian Dennis.

And Fridays on the Football Daily means one thing. It's time for the Commentators View episode. I was aiming to get there, I think, at 5.30 for what I thought was an 8 o'clock kickoff. My memory is coming over a bridge or coming down a road where you could actually see inside the stadium. And I could see the players on the pitch getting ready for a 5.45 kickoff.

And I was nowhere near. The Commentators View. only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. The Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds. So Chelsea through on Thursday night and on Wednesday, Arsenal overturned their 2-0 first leg deficit to beat Real Madrid at the Emirates and progressed to the last four. It was 0-0 at half time but three goals in 13 second half minutes turned the tie around

with two of them coming from striker Alessia Rousseau. I don't think it's all sunk in yet, it was just amazing. The result, the fans playing at the Emirates, yeah, it just doesn't get old. You did everything right in the first half but the ball just wouldn't go in the back of the net. What was it about the second half that finally started to click? Yeah, we felt really good in the first half, even coming in at half-time there wasn't much messaging besides we know we want to score and there's no rush to do that and it's just about, yeah, when we get those chances, being clinical, taking time with our passes and our crosses

in the final third and yeah, we did that in the second half. To go from 2-0 down to win three to an aggregate, what was that emotion like on the final whistle? It was amazing. I think when we went out to Madrid, obviously we were disappointed. Lots of factors played into it and then I think as a team we reflected on it but we knew that we had the belief and we knew what we needed to do coming back to the Emirates. So there was disappointment but it turned into more fire quite quickly. And, yes, you could see that in our performance tonight. I'm sure you know by now that you'll be playing Leon in the semi-finals. After that performance, though, you must fancy yourself against any team at this point.

Yes, I have massive belief in our team, in our staff, in what we're doing and what we're building here. So, yes, you've got to beat the best to go on to achieve what we want to achieve with this club. So it will be a tough test and we'll get back to work and go harder. But yeah, we're excited. Alessia Russo speaking to the BBC's Joe Curry. I mean, Gilly, it was a brilliant all-round performance from Arsenal, wasn't it? I mean, they never looked panicked about that 2-0 deficit, did they? No, and I think this and it was difficult conditions as well that they had to play in against Real Madrid and, you know, they had a good result at the weekend as well in the league against

Liverpool where they managed to get their confidence as well and put a few goals past them. Obviously, it helped them that they was playing at the Emirates as well. But I just feel with Arsenal is that, I mean, I think the Emirates is a great strength for them. I feel like they play a lot better there. They've had difficult results there, but I just feel like when the crowd's there and they're on their side and they've got the noise behind them, they have this belief that they can go and beat anybody. And I'll be completely honest, I wasn't in doubt that Arsenal could come back against Riyadh Mujid. I felt like obviously, yes, the first half was a little bit flat, but then going in at half time, coming out, knowing that you have to go at them and, you

know, getting the first goal. And like you said, the goals in such quick succession, they could have had another two as well afterwards, obviously two goals were ruled out for offside. And it's just that belief that Arsenal felt that they was going to come back into the game. And for me, I think the Emirates was a game changer for them. Yeah, I went to a WSL game earlier in the season at the Emirates, Rachel, the first one I've been to, and the atmosphere was unbelievably good. Arsenal, they seem to manage to create that atmosphere, and the players respond, and you can tell that Alessio Russo loves playing there.

Yeah, you can. I think all the Arsenal players love playing there. I think even the opposition teams, despite not being on the right end of a result, you appreciate how great an atmosphere it is. All the Arsenal players love playing there. I think even opposition teams, despite not being on the right end of a result, you appreciate how great an atmosphere it is. They've done an exceptional job. They've had a strategy that's looked specifically at what is going to make people want to be here. How do we make this entertaining to fill the stands?

And that's all encompassing. There's lots of different avenues they've gone down to bring in different types of people. They've got a broader demographic than I think most clubs have because they've tried to understand why and how do we sell tickets to a slightly different market, you know, lean into we are Arsenal but also lean into those other areas, the families, younger generations of people make it something that's I think cool in North London to go to games and that's having huge benefits for them and it's a fantastic result for them. They'll be absolutely delighted to still be in the competition.

I mean, Karen Bardsley was part of our commentary team last night. She said the atmosphere after the game was electric. I listened listening to it on Five Live and listening to the commentary. For the Arsenal boss Renee Slagers, does it feel like a bit of a landmark moment for her? Yeah, I think it's a huge result for her and I think she's done brilliantly since she's come in and obviously taken her initially as the interim but then being given the job as well and I just feel similar with Bon Pastor in the sense of the players, they can relate to her, she was a former player, especially at Chelsea, that she's been there, done it, she's won it, they're going to listen to that.

But I just feel with Red Ace Leaguer, she's, she's learned to get the best out of the players that she's got, you know, and there's been players that have been struggling with their form and confidence. You're looking at Russo now, it looks like a completely different player. She's so hungry. She's so confident when she's going in front of goal as well, where early on in the season, she, she seemed a shadow really of a player that we used to see at United. So I think she's been able to get the best out of those players and they have the belief and backing from her that you know she's by their side and she's supporting them and she believes that

they can go on in the competition. I don't want to make you Jonathan the person who throws cold water over our dreams of an all-London final or even you know at least one of the English teams getting to the final but I mean Lyon are going to be incredibly strong aren't they? Eight time winners and they saw off Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate. Well I'm sure if they phone up Chelsea Sonia Bonpastor will give them the inside track on Lyon she knows them so well. It's going to be mighty difficult for both English clubs wouldn't it be great? Wouldn't it be a milestone moment for the development of women's football in this country

if one or two of them could get through to the final? And wouldn't it be a magnificent boost for the Lionesses with the European Championship coming up in the summer if the European club champions were an English side as they go out to Switzerland and try and win the European crown again. It would be a tremendous year and it would be a tremendous leap forward. I just wish more games were played at the big parent grounds. You know the argument that it might affect the pitch at Chelsea, we've seen a magnificent pitch, hasn't been scratched. Hasn't been scratched by the women's game being played on it. And I think it's time for the end of excuses, get more games more games in the big stadium get more people in the big stadium make it fun and the game could lift off massively this summer if both of these

teams or one of them wins this. Yeah I mean Lyon and Barcelona let's face it they've they won every Champions League title since 2016 so and that is that's pretty yeah as I say it's it's European royalty that these two teams are up against. It is, and people might think, well Chelsea throw a lot of money at women's football, so do Manchester City, so do Arsenal. It's nothing compared to what Barcelona pay and Lyon pay, nothing. Barcelona, how could they get Lucy Bronza there a couple of years ago? How could they get the Lionesses there? Because they pay big bucks and you know the game in England still needs to leap forward a couple of major

steps to catch up with Barcelona. Barcelona for me will be the team to beat in this. Okay let's dream though, Gilli. Who out of Chelsea and Arsenal has got the best chance of getting to the final? Go on, Julie. I'd say Arsenal. I think Barcelona will be really difficult for Chelsea. And I feel like if there's sort of that omen team for Chelsea, obviously with previous results, and I think a lot of it would be mind games as well in regards

to that. I just feel like with Arsenal, obviously with Lyon, they've lost Bonpastor. And I just think it's that chance of this and they'll believe that they can beat anybody. I think Chelsea will believe they can beat Barcelona. I just think Barcelona will be a bit more of a difficult test. Well, you Rachel. Well, just to be that person, I'm going to, I'm going to say, you know, I really do feel like Chelsea this year are in best position to at least really be competitive.

I think they've got players like Lucy Bros and Keira Walsh who've been at Barcelona, they're not going to fear them, they've got that insight, they've got a manager who's overcome them in the past, they've got players who've played against them many times. I just feel like Barcelona are beatable. I think we saw Man City beat them, Real Madrid beat them recently. I think this could be Chelsea's chance. So Rachel Corsi, Scotland captain, you are hoping that an English team wins the Champions League.

This is what you're saying. I'm in it for Aaron. I'm in it for Aaron. Yeah, well exactly. We're all team Aaron, for the sake of the semi-finals anyway. So the first legs of those semi-final times we played on Saturday, the 19th of April with the return legs the following Saturday. And we're here today that 5,000 tickets, Arsenal sold 5,000 tickets within the

first hour today of them going on sale. So, I mean, that is quite something, isn't it really? And an indication, particularly, I think of Arsenal's, you know, creating that atmosphere as we were saying saying and just making it a destination. Yeah 100% and I remember I think it was the year when they'll see Arsenal come back against Wolfsburg you know and it was incredible even Bayern Munich is electrified it just seems like Champions League games there. We were there Julie, we did that game together, it was unbelievable. It was. It was unbelievable. It just seems like when it comes to Champions League it's just a completely different vibe there and it's just yeah I mean I think they've had always had incredible support

there anyway when it comes to the games at the Emirates but yeah it's incredible obviously to have that many tickets sold already. Yeah Saturdays, Easter holidays, get down there with your family. That's all I'm saying. Great experience. Lovely to share it with you today, to Gilly and to Rachel and to Jonathan, of course, as well. And that's all from us here at Stamford Bridge for this episode of the Football Daily. The next one will be the Commentator's View

with John Murray, Ian Dennis, and Alistair Bruce-Paul. ["The Football Story of the Century"] This is the football story of the century. It's pandemonium, it's ecstasy. It's an authoritarian regime. For the past 15 years, English football has been dominated by Manchester City. Eight Premier League titles, six League Cups, three FA Cups, one Champions League. And more than a hundred charges. The FA Cups won Champions League. And they're 4-3! And more than a hundred charges.

Somebody turned up at the Etihad Stadium and effectively served papers. I'm Clive Myrie and this is Football on Trial. The Manchester City charges. They believe they've got irrefutable evidence. Listen on BBC Sounds.