ALYSSA THOMPSON is loving life in London.
And she is hopeful that her debut season in Blue will finish with a Champions League trophy.
Thompson joined Chelsea in a membership-file switch price just below £1million from Angel City final summer time.
She has since made 27 appearances for the reigning WSL champions, scoring eight objectives and contributing three assists.
And though the home marketing campaign has not panned out the best way the Blues maybe would have needed – with Manchester City poised to win their first league title in a decade – Thompson stays hopeful that her first time period at Stamford Bridge will finish on a excessive.
Having already gained the League Cup earlier this month, Chelsea are nonetheless in rivalry for the FA Cup and Champions League.
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But come Thursday, they may discover themselves out of Europe.
The Blues at the moment trail London rivals Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate after the primary leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, leaving them an enormous job to do at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Ahead of the conflict, Thompson advised SunSport: “The solely factor we are able to do is attempt our greatest and know that we now have to complete our probabilities. In the primary recreation we have been in a position to get into their half early and have a few probabilities, I hit the publish.
“We had a couple goals that got called back, so I think we’re confident in what we produced on that night. We just need to finish and if we do that we’ll be able to get a good result and know that we put everything that we need to do in the game to push further into Champions League.”
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On enjoying in entrance of the Stamford Bridge crowd, she continued: “I all the time love enjoying at Stamford Bridge in entrance of our mates and the followers. It’s superb.
“It’s so cool to just hear their chants throughout the game and I feel like it pushes us more to want to play harder and play for that win and just know that they’re all behind us. So I think it’s going to have a good effect on us and what we bring to the game.”
The USA worldwide took an enormous step by shifting hundreds of miles internationally from Los Angeles to London at simply 20 years outdated.
But she was instantly welcomed by staff-mates Catarina Macario – who left Chelsea to join San Diego Wave final week – and Naomi Girma after touching down in London, with the duo having additionally grown up in California earlier than shifting to England.
“London is so totally different from what I’m used to. It’s not like LA in any respect. I’ve actually been in a position to get shut with Naomi and when Cat was right here, it was very nice having them on the staff. Just having the ability to be collectively and even be at US camp.
“But I really feel like general, I’m undoubtedly getting extra adjusted to London now, residing on my very own. I’ve by no means carried out that earlier than. So I really feel like every little thing is coming collectively extra, my condominium and simply realising that I’m right here proper now.
“I think the weather is the biggest part, honestly, for me, it’s so different. Like, it’s cold. It’s cold!”
Thompson joined Chelsea following their home treble win final season, the place additionally they went the complete marketing campaign with out dropping a league or cup match.
It was an enormous adjustment for the 21-yr-outdated, who had been used to enjoying only one recreation every week within the States.
“I used to be coming into an entire totally different atmosphere being at Chelsea. Just being with a brand new staff on the whole has its personal areas too. I used to be so nervous for every little thing as a result of I didn’t know what to anticipate.
“I additionally tried to have a whole lot of grace with myself and know that it was going to be more durable at first, however figuring out that there’s time, that I’m right here and will finally get used to every little thing that’s new right here.
“I really feel like there are a whole lot of similarities (between the WSL and NWSL) however actually, what number of video games you play is probably the most totally different for me. Before we simply performed one recreation on the weekend and now we’re enjoying three virtually each week. I’ve by no means carried out that earlier than.
“And having the ability to play in Champions League, I discovered that so lots of the leagues have totally different types, which is so cool. And having the ability to come from the NWSL to the WSL and then enjoying Barcelona or Wolfsburg, it’s so cool to simply see all of the totally different types of play. I believe that’s actually helped me with my worldwide play as properly.
“In the start it was form of laborious, however now I’m used to having the ability to play these video games and again to again, which is loopy. I felt like coming right here, I didn’t know the way I used to be going to do it.
“But I’ve been really lucky to be able to get integrated well and be able to play minutes – big minutes – over the past few weeks and feel good.”
Thompson had a small hyperlink to Chelsea earlier than even becoming a member of the membership – via legendary Blues supervisor Emma Hayes, who was appointed head coach of the US Women’s nationwide staff in 2024.
The winger sought recommendation from the seven-time WSL champion after being made conscious of Chelsea’s curiosity.
“Initially, I didn’t ask as a result of I form of felt like I already needed to go. I used to be like, this is one thing that I’ve needed to do for a very long time and I believe I used to be too fast to leap on going as a result of I didn’t actually take into consideration leaving residence, leaving my sister, leaving my household for the primary time.
“And so then after I did name Emma, she simply posed powerful questions like, ‘How are you gonna do without your sister? How are you going to be away from LA?’
“You have to consider all these issues earlier than you make such an enormous transfer to Chelsea. And I believe after my dialog along with her, I did take into consideration these issues and I used to be like, I nonetheless need to go.
“I’ve always wanted to play in Europe and I felt like the opportunity to go right now, being young, being able to still develop and develop around players like Lauren James and Sam Kerr, high quality players who just make me better. Even in training I’m just getting better. So it’s been really cool to come here do something that I dreamed of doing since I was little.”
Thompson already has her sights set on subsequent yr’s World Cup in Brazil – and her final dream is to be there along with her youthful sister, Gisele, who performs for Angel City.
“I really like enjoying along with her, it’s my favorite factor to do. I simply really feel extra assured in myself, and I really feel like I can do something when she’s on the sector with me as a result of I do know she has my again, and I’ve hers so it’s been actually enjoyable to be at camp along with her. We simply hang around and chortle and it’s so enjoyable.
“I do know they’re going to be selecting the core roster quickly, so we undoubtedly take into consideration going to the World Cup collectively.
“We always dreamed about doing that and dreamed about playing together on the biggest stage. So I hope we both make it.”
The Chelsea celebrity is an envoy for TOCA Social’s Momentum marketing campaign, which goals to extend ladies’s participation in soccer.
Thompson not too long ago grew to become the newest participant to again the Womxn’s Hour initiative, which provides ladies and ladies the chance to become involved at TOCA venues for simply £1 from 7pm each Wednesday.
But which Chelsea participant would get the perfect leads to the digital soccer video games?
“Keira (Walsh) or LJ (Lauren James) – they’re really good,” she concludes.
Thompson spoke to SunSport after backing the Womxn’s Hour initiative from TOCA Social, which provides ladies the chance to participate in soccer for simply £1 each Wednesday from 7pm.
