Massive blow for Chelsea! Sonia Bompastor confirms Keira Walsh one of FOUR key players who will MISS League Cup final against Man City

The absence of Walsh, Naomi Girma, and Guro Reiten due to injury will significantly impact the squad as they prepare for a tough test against their domestic rivals. Bompastor had initially hoped that both Girma and Walsh would be fit in time for the final after missing Chelsea’s last two matches. However, none of them have recovered in time, forcing Chelsea to approach the fixture with a depleted squad.

Bompastor informed that Walsh is making progress in her recovery and is "not too far from rejoining the group" suggesting that her return could be imminent.

She added: "No new injuries from the Crystal Palace game. We still won't have Keira Walsh, Naomi Girma, Guro Reiten available for the game at the weekend, and Maelys Mpome as well."

Moreover, Sam Kerr remains sidelined as she continues rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered over a year ago.

"We just need to focus on what we do with her every day so that she can be close to coming back on the pitch," she said. "Every player is different, some can return from an ACL injury after 10 months, others 13 or 14. It's difficult to predict."

Bompastor can lead Chelsea to a potential quadruple this campaign, with the first of the four trophies up for grabs on Saturday. When asked if former manager Emma Hayes has wished her well, she said: "No, she hasn’t sent a message yet, but I’m expecting to receive one. She is always supporting from a distance. If I can make her happy by continuing to win trophies, then I will make sure the players will do that.”

Chelsea made history by signing Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave for a reported $1.1 million, making her the first player to command a seven-figure transfer fee in women's football. However, her time at the club has been hampered by injuries. In her first start for Chelsea against Brighton, she managed to play only 59 minutes before appearing to aggravate a lingering calf issue that had already impacted her availability. This injury also kept her out of the United States Women’s National Team squad for the SheBelieves Cup, where the USWNT finished second for the first time since 2019, following a 2-1 defeat to Japan.

Chelsea’s battle with Manchester City does not end with Saturday’s League Cup final. The two teams are set to face each other four times within a short span, making this a defining period for both clubs. After the League Cup clash, they will meet again in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg on March 19. Just three days later, Chelsea and City will go head-to-head in the Women’s Super League (WSL) before completing their European tie in the return leg on March 27.