As the saying goes - slow and steady wins the race. While 'slow and steady' is often balked at in football, Sonia Bompastor has already won a fair few races since her arrival at Chelsea Women, while taking her time to implement her playing style.

Coming in and instantly trying to change a squad and culture honed over 12 successful years by her predecessor, Emma Hayes, could have ended in disaster.

Instead, Bompastor has patiently moulded the team into her image. For example, she began to used a back three towards the end of last season, moving away from her previously deployed back four, as Chelsea stormed to a domestic treble.

Hayes was known for her tactical fluidity, but Bompastor prefers a back three in her own footballing philosophy and has continued with it this term. It was something she was already looking to introduce when she arrived at Chelsea last summer, while being productive at both ends of the pitch.

Ahead of Saturday's WSL showdown with Arsenal Women, Bompastor exclusively told Sky Sports: "It was planned from the beginning. It's part of who I am as a manager, my philosophy, my vision.

"I just needed to make sure players are on...