‘Best right back in the world’: Foster’s huge call on Aussie superstar
Updated . First published at
Craig Foster has delivered huge praise towards Ellie Carpenter, declaring she’s proving to be the best right back in the world right now.
Carpenter was on fire in Chelsea’s last WSL match against Tottenham, scoring two goals.
Ellie Carpenter and Wieke Kaptein. Getty Images
At 26, the right-back has cemented her name as a world-class player recently, shining in a Matildas jersey and at the domestic level.
Her move to Chelsea in 2025 has continued her trajectory which coincided with her Lyon manager Sonia Bompastor moving to The Blues the previous year.
“I think under Sonia Bompastor she is playing probably her best football that I’ve seen, she’s certainly playing her fastest football,” Foster said on Stan Sport’s Added Time.
“She had the same coach at Lyon and at that time they were far and away the strongest club in European women’s football, they were a behemoth at one point because they were investing more than anyone else.
“This coach has changed the intensity because that team didn’t play like this, with this speed and nor did Ellie.
“Ellie now I think has gone to a whole new level, and she’s proving herself as the best right back and sometimes right wing back in the world.
“No one else can do what she’s done, her delivery has improved out of sight, she’s now scoring goals like she did in this game, with a beautiful turn for the second in the box. She’s going even higher.”
Carpenter’s two goals against Spurs took her tally to three for the season and six for the club.
During her five years at Lyon she only recorded three goals from 123 matches.
Her first goal against Spurs was a first time hit from inside the box off an Alyssa Thompson cut-back.
For the second effort, she took a touch on her right foot before turning and finishing on the left.
For Tommy Oar, she’s now added another bow to her game.
“We’ve always associated her with the athleticism and getting up and down, but we’re now seeing the end product and the composure she showed in that second goal, that’s not something we’ve always seen in her, and she’s taken her game to a new level this season for sure,” he said.
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