How a reunion with Sonia Bompastor helped Chelsea solve their striker shortage

Melvine Malard first met Sonia Bompastor as a 14-year-old at France's national football academy at Clairefontaine, where Bompastor persuaded her to move to mainland France. The pair eventually worked together at Lyon, winning the Champions League in 2022. Twelve years after their initial meeting, Malard joined Chelsea from Manchester United and quickly established herself as a key player. Scoring six goals in her first six appearances, she has helped solve Chelsea's striker issue following Sam Kerr's departure.