**Sandy Baltimore says Chelsea training has been “really intense” during pre-season as Sonia Bompastor prepares her side for the new campaign.**
The France international was on target as Chelsea Women opened their summer programme with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Auckland FC at Eden Park.
Baltimore scored Chelsea’s fourth goal before half-time, adding to Aggie Beever-Jones’ early hat-trick as the Blues took control of their first match in New Zealand.
Speaking afterwards, Baltimore explained that the intensity of Chelsea’s work has increased as preparations continue.
“The training has been really good so far,” Baltimore [told Chelsea’s official website](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/sandy-baltimore-tour-diary-exploring-new-territory-in-new-zealand-and).
“Pre-season is really important to make sure we are ready for the first game. The sessions have been really intense but good fun.”
Chelsea could hardly have made a more convincing start to their summer schedule.
[ReadChelsea’s report from the 7-0 victory over Auckland](https://readchelsea.com/2026/08/08/auckland-fc-0-7-chelsea-beever-jones-hits-first-half-hat-trick/) detailed how Beever-Jones scored three times inside the opening 23 minutes before Baltimore added another before the break.
Giulia Dragoni, Maika Hamano and Mayra Ramirez completed the scoring after half-time.
Baltimore operated in an advanced role on the left and her goal provided another encouraging sign after a productive first season in England.
The trip is about considerably more than results, however.
Bompastor is using the tour to build fitness and prepare a squad which will again be expected to challenge on several fronts when competitive football begins.
Baltimore’s comments suggest the intensity is already increasing as Chelsea move through that process.
The Blues have now left New Zealand and travelled to Australia, where they will face the A-League Women All-Stars in Sydney on Wednesday.
That fixture should provide Bompastor with another opportunity to increase minutes across her squad before Chelsea return home.
For Baltimore, a goal and a convincing team performance represented a positive start.
The greater priority will be ensuring Chelsea are ready when the results begin to matter.