Sonia Bompastor explained goalkeeper Hannah Hampton dropped out of the Chelsea starting XI against Real Madrid shortly before kick-off due to illness.
The England international had been named in the starting lineup ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League group stage opener at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, but, after kick off was briefly delayed, substitute goalkeeper Zecira Musovic instead came out with the team for the beginning of the game.
Chelsea’s third-choice goalkeeper Katie Cox was also missing from the matchday squad due to illness, meaning Bompastor’s side were without a goalkeeper on the bench. The Chelsea head coach said the team were prepared for an outfield player to go in goal had something happened to Musovic during the game.
“Hannah felt unwell just before going out,” Bompastor said. “She’s now feeling better, she’s recovered but it was a situation that happened right before we went out. But we have two really good goalkeepers, Z (Musovic) was ready to play and ready to perform.
“Katie (Cox) was also feeling unwell, she was feeling unwell this morning, so that’s why she was not in the squad. But Z was feeling good.”
Asked what would have happened if Musovic was also sick, Bompastor replied: “I was thinking about that, we spoke about that, as a manager you have to, and I will say that we were prepared if that was the case, but I’m not sharing the name.”
Bompastor confirmed USWNT forward Catarina Macario was also missing from the squad due to illness, while Erin Cuthbert sat out due to a knock.
Chelsea were 3-2 winners over Madrid thanks to goals from Sjoeke Nusken, Guro Reiten and Mayra Ramirez, while Alba Redondo and Linda Caicedo were on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Chelsea return to action against Arsenal in the Women’s Super League on Saturday.
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