Chelsea legend Eni Aluko has backed her former club to come out on top in this year's WSL title race but admits the Blues' "ultimate test" will come in the Champions League.
Chelsea returned to the summit of the WSL table following their narrow victory over Manchester United last time out and are firmly on course to bag their fourth consecutive top-flight title. However, Emma Hayes' side are yet to taste success in the Champions League, having lost out to Barcelona in the Final in 2021.
The Blues will hope their unbeaten run in this year's competition continues when they travel to Lyon for the first leg of the quarter-finals on Wednesday. But Aluko - who scored 68 goals in 158 appearances for Chelsea - believes the WSL leaders will have to be at their best if they are to triumph over the reigning European Champions at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
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"I think it’s the ultimate test for Chelsea," Aluko said. "I think their dominance in England has been proven but it’s in Europe where their mentality will really be tested. Lyon is the ultimate test."
While Chelsea may have their work cut out on the European stage, Aluko is confident her former club have enough experience to see them over the line domestically. Emma Hayes' side are two points clear of second-place Manchester United with a game in hand, and Aluko believes the winning mentality within the squad is what will give them the edge over their title rivals.
"I’m always backing Chelsea," the 36-year-old said, reflecting on the title race. "They’re one of those teams that you can never really write off and that win against Manchester United was huge and a reaction really to the Conti Cup loss.
"I think Chelsea will go on and win it. The league is obviously the priority for them and I think the consistency of winning breeds a winning mentality. Winning became quite addictive when I was at Chelsea and it’s all anyone cared about.
"It was quite an unapologetic mentality and so I think the difference between Chelsea and the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United is that they’re so used to being on top and they’ve built that momentum."
Aluko added: "When you’ve got players like Sam Kerr and Lauren James in the team, they can win you games by themselves. That goal against United, the ball over the top from James and the control and finish by Kerr, if Kevin de Bruyne and Haaland do that at the weekend we’re all lauding them so they’re just world class."
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