Catarina Macario sits out Champions League trip as Chelsea manage her minutes

Chelsea forward Catarina Macario has not travelled to the Netherlands for their Champions League match against Twente.

The United States international, who came off the bench in the Women’s Super League win over Arsenal last week, will not feature in Thursday’s clash as the Blues manage her minutes.

Macario was sidelined for 20 months after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in June 2022 before missing this year’s Olympics due to a knee problem.

Blues boss Sonia Bompastor confirmed on Wednesday the forward had remained in London but will be ready to play in Chelsea’s WSL clash against Tottenham at Kingsmeadow this weekend.

The Price is right as youthful Northern Ireland thrash Bulgaria

Speaking to reporters at Grolsch Veste, Bompastor said: “With Catarina we are building some minutes and building her fitness, that’s part of the plan and her own process.

“We work individually with every player and try to give them what they need to be fit and at their best level. We felt it was a good decision to have her in London working individually with some staff. She’ll be ready for the game on Sunday.”

Chelsea beat Real Madrid 3-2 in their opening Champions League fixture at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

But Bompastor called for a more dominant display against Twente.

“I think from one game to another we want the performance to improve,” she added.

“We have a game plan but sometimes it’s different and you expect something different from the game model, but getting a result is the most important thing.

“We want to perform as well and we want to perform tomorrow. Coming from the Madrid game, I want my team to be dominant and to have more consistency in the performance.”