Chelsea have confirmed that Mayra Ramirez and Manaka Matsukubo will both miss Saturday’s Women’s Super League opener against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Sonia Bompastor delivered the update on Friday evening, leaving the Blues without two significant attacking options for Natalia Arroyo’s first league game of the new season. Ramirez is still rebuilding her fitness after missing last season, while summer signing Matsukubo is yet to make her competitive Chelsea debut.
Chelsea confirm double absence before Aston Villa clash
Ramirez had already missed Chelsea’s Champions League qualifying victory over Real Sociedad and will not return against Villa.
Bompastor confirmed the Colombian striker is “not available for the game tomorrow”, explaining that Chelsea are giving her the time required to rebuild after an entire season without competitive football.
The Chelsea boss still regards Ramirez as one of the leading No.9s in the women’s game, but stressed that she is not yet ready to return.
Matsukubo will also remain sidelined.
The Japan international joined Chelsea this summer but has yet to feature for her new club. Bompastor praised the midfielder’s intelligence and creativity while confirming she is also unavailable for the WSL opener.
That gives Villa a small early advantage before what remains one of the most difficult fixtures on the calendar.
Arroyo’s side have undergone a significant summer rebuild and will arrive at Stamford Bridge attempting to test that new-look squad immediately against one of the WSL’s strongest teams.
We have already covered how to watch Chelsea Women against Aston Villa Women, while our wider Aston Villa Women hub will track the team throughout the new campaign.
Chelsea still possess considerable attacking depth, so Villa will hardly view the absences as making Saturday straightforward.
But removing Ramirez and Matsukubo from Bompastor’s options is nevertheless welcome news for Arroyo before her side’s first competitive test.
