Chelsea backed for WSL glory by Telford after FA Cup triumph

Chelsea will back up their FA Cup success with more glory in the Women’s Super League.

That is the view of their former goalkeeper and three-time WSL winner Carly Telford, as the top-flight season reaches a thrilling conclusion.

Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in front of a world-record crowd for a domestic women’s match of 77,390 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, winning the FA Cup for a third straight season.

A record-extending sixth WSL crown is also in their sights, with United also serving as their main rivals in that competition.

Congratulations, @ChelseaFCW! pic.twitter.com/tWTprNVFTV

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 14, 2023

United lead the WSL table by one point, but Chelsea have three games left to play this term, as opposed to the Red Devils’ two.

The Blues are away to West Ham on Wednesday, with potentially decisive matches against Arsenal and Reading to follow.

“Yeah, I think it will be Chelsea,” Telford told Stats Perform when asked who would edge the dramatic title race.

“I just think it comes down to a huge weekend because you have got the United v City derby, and then you have got the Arsenal v Chelsea derby as well.

“It could go either way at the minute, but I think the good thing is Chelsea have kind of kicked on and have shown that in the past couple of weeks.

“They have really shone and a lot of teams have started struggling a little bit.

“Again, it comes to this time of year and you can’t write off Chelsea as they have done it so consistently.

Smile if you’ve scored in (and won) three consecutive #WomensFACup finals. pic.twitter.com/Ma4cmVZzBb

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) May 15, 2023

“I think United might drop points next week in the derby, if I’m honest, though they have just been one of those teams that seem to be grinding out results. You can’t break them off.

“But yeah, I’m going Chelsea.”

Following their FA Cup win, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes dedicated her side’s triumph to supporters after a year in which she felt the wider club has “suffered”.

Former England keeper Telford retired in March, having left Chelsea for the second time in January 2022.