What Katie McCabe is racing to learn after Chelsea move
Katie McCabe says she is determined to understand Chelsea’s game model as quickly as possible after admitting there have been “a lot of firsts” during her opening weeks at the club.
The summer signing is spending her first pre-season under Sonia Bompastor after joining a Chelsea squad preparing to defend their Women’s Super League title.
McCabe impressed during the 7-0 victory over Auckland FC and has now explained how she is using Chelsea’s tour to accelerate her adjustment to a new team, coaching staff and environment.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, McCabe said: “It’s been a super welcoming environment to come into. Everyone’s been really friendly, really helpful, and it’s been a nice few weeks to get up to speed with everything and see how Sonia works.”
🗣️ Katie McCabe on settling into Chelsea:
“It’s been a super welcoming environment to come into. Everyone’s been really friendly, really helpful.”
On the tour: “It’s been really helpful for me being here, just getting to know everyone a lot better.”
“I want to understand our… pic.twitter.com/xFhGTmr6Q2
— ChelseaReport (@chelsreport_) August 10, 2026
Katie McCabe learning Chelsea game model
McCabe arrived at Cobham around a week before the rest of the squad returned, giving her additional time to meet staff and begin adapting to her new surroundings.
She has since used Chelsea’s tour of New Zealand and Australia to spend more time with her new team-mates away from the training pitch. Dinners, coffees and longer periods together have helped the defender build relationships which would normally take more time during a regular training week.
The footballing adjustment remains her main priority.
“On this camp, I want to understand our game model a lot more and make connections with my team-mates on and off the pitch,” McCabe said.
“For me, it’s about understanding as quickly as possible how we play and how we do things, and understanding the values of the club.”
Her comments provide another insight into the intensity of Chelsea’s preparations under Bompastor.
ReadChelsea reported earlier today that Sandy Baltimore described training as “really intense” as the Blues increase their workload ahead of the new campaign.
McCabe’s arrival adds another experienced option to a Chelsea squad already packed with international quality, while her versatility should give Bompastor further flexibility on the left side.
The early signs have been encouraging. McCabe featured as Chelsea swept aside Auckland at Eden Park and now has another opportunity to build minutes when the Blues face an A-League Women All-Stars side in Sydney on Wednesday.
For the 30-year-old, though, pre-season is about considerably more than fitness.
The quicker she understands Bompastor’s demands and develops connections with those around her, the better prepared she will be when Chelsea’s competitive campaign begins in September.
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