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How a reunion with scout Bompastor solved Chelsea’s striker issue
Melvine Malard’s reunion with Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has helped address the club’s need for a leading striker after Sam Kerr’s departure. Bompastor first spotted Malard as a 14-year-old at France’s Clairefontaine academy and helped bring her from Reunion Island to Lyon; now, at 26, Malard has made a rapid impact at Chelsea.
Malard scored six Women’s Super League goals in her first six appearances for Chelsea, matching her total from last season. She reached that mark in 341 minutes, compared with 1,206 minutes across 17 matches last season. Their connection stretches back to Lyon, where Malard progressed into the first team and started the 2022 Champions League final, which Bompastor’s side won 3-1.
In short
- Malard has quickly become a key Chelsea forward.
- She scored six WSL goals in 341 minutes.
- Her Chelsea manager first recruited her as a teenager.
Explained simply
Chelsea are a leading club in the Women’s Super League, England’s top division in women’s football. The team had relied on striker Sam Kerr for goals before she left, creating a need for another forward to lead the attack.
Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea’s manager, previously worked with Melvine Malard at Lyon in France. Bompastor first noticed Malard as a teenager and helped bring her into Lyon’s set-up, where she developed into a first-team player. Their history helps explain why Malard’s move to Chelsea drew attention.
A striker’s goals can shape a team’s results over a season, while a manager’s familiarity with a player can affect how quickly she settles into a new side. Malard’s progress is therefore relevant to Chelsea’s attack and its hopes in domestic and European competitions.