Chelsea host Aston Villa in the opening match of the Women’s Super League season at Kingsmeadow to mark the start of a new era for the Blues under Sonia Bompastor. The Blues won the WSL for a fifth consecutive season last campaign under the departing Emma Hayes and Bompastor has big shoes to fill after arriving from Lyon for a new era in the women’s game.

So this is Chelsea without Emma Hayes. And Emma being Emma she’s already made waves with an Olympic gold. So no pressure, Sonia Bompastor, once of Lyon, takes charge at Kingsmeadow – no roll-out at Stamford Bridge – after a promising summer tour.