In replacing Emma Hayes at Chelsea last summer, Sonia Bompastor perhaps faced the toughest task in women’s football.
But you wouldn’t have guessed this after a season in which the Blues won the WSL, FA Cup and League Cup, and lost in the Women’s Champions League semi-finals to Barcelona.
Despite only being under the guidance of the Frenchwoman for a year, Bright has built a relationship with Bompastor similar to what she had with Hayes, who left the Blues to take charge of the United States women’s national team.
“To be able to experience that and have that relationship with two separate managers is really special,” added Bright.
“To still feel you have that open-door policy, I could go to her for anything, and she has been amazing throughout the summer as well.
“I know if I needed her, I could go to her. You feel really lucky to have that.”
Bright said it was “really refreshing” to return to Chelsea training and is now raring to go for the new campaign.
“I was eager to get back on the pitch and finally be pain free with my knee and it not blow up after every session and I am actually able to walk down stairs after a tough day,” she added.
“I don’t feel like I ever lost the buzz, but I was so drained that I was so ready for a break. But now I am so ready for the first game and get back out there.”
Having won the last six WSL titles and claimed the two cup competitions last season, Chelsea are the dominant force in women’s football.
Before their season opener at Stamford Bridge against Manchester City on Friday, 5 September, Bright said her side will not rest on their laurels, especially having missed out on a coveted first Champions League.
“You can’t stand still,” she added. “You have to look at every factor of the game, what we do and the Chelsea model.
“We achieved a lot, but we didn’t achieve one thing that we really want. We want to do it all again. We don’t just want that, we want everything. We want to be even better.
“Every other team has grown and is getting even stronger and every team is going to want to win like us.
“It’s scary that we are going to another level, but that is the exciting part.”
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