Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor on USWNT duo: Catarina Macario nears return, Mia Fishel still out

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Jacob SchneiderAug 26, 2024USAChelsea FC WomenS. BompastorC. MacarioWOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Bompastor explains why Fishel and Macario did not play in Chelsea's preseason tour in the U.S.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Mia Fishel is aiming for a January return to the pitch, Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said Monday. The U.S. international tore her ACL in February while preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the national team.
Catarina Macario, meanwhile, is just a few weeks away from featuring with the Blues after missing the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with the USWNT due to "right knee irritation."
Both Fishel and Macario traveled with the Blues to the U.S. on their preseason tour over the past week.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Neither featured for the English club in their two matches on U.S. soil last week, where they defeated Gotham FC, 3-1, and then Arsenal, 1-0 on Sunday.
Macario is close to making her return.
"Cat is now rehabbing and she will be ready to come back on the field with the team for some parts of training not next week, but the next one. So we are close," Bompastor said after the win over Arsenal at Audi Field.
Fishel, meanwhile, will still be recovering for the next few months, per Bompastor.
"With Mia it will take more time, and she will need to have more weeks to rehab. I hope to have her fit and ready to play, maybe with the team in January."
DID YOU KNOW?
This is Bompastor's first year as head coach of the Blues. Following Emma Hayes' departure earlier this year to take over the U.S. women's national team job, the former Lyon boss was appointed as Chelsea's newest manager ahead of the 2024-25 WSL campaign.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA, MACARIO AND FISHEL?
Macario will be rejoining the team in full training soon. Fishel will still be looking in from the outside as she rehabs from her injury. The Blue kick off the upcoming season on Sept. 20 against Aston Villa.

WHAT HAPPENED?