Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor sprang to the defence of her goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and England boss Sarina Wiegman after apparently critical comments from former Lionesses keeper Mary Earps were serialised in the media.

Earps had suggested that Hampton’s previous behaviour should have ruled her out of an England recall at the start of 2023.

And Bompastor said that Hampton was unperturbed about the ongoing furore.

“I think Hannah is fine,” Bompastor said in her post-match press conference after Chelsea beat London City Lionesses 2-0 on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten run at the start of the Women’s Super League season.

“It’s tough because Hannah is an athlete but also a person and it is never nice to hear these comments.

“The only thing I want to say about Hannah is that, since I joined Chelsea, she has grown so much. She’s such a professional athlete and also a good person. We have a really good relationship together and I want to show her my support in this situation.”

Sonia Bompastor: Show respect to your team-mate and your manager

Those comments about her own player might have been expected, but the Frenchwoman also then took the opportunity to speak...