“This is the biggest game we’ll probably play in our careers.”
Chelsea captain Millie Bright knows the challenge her team will face on Saturday when they host defending champions Barcelona at Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-final.
The Blues surprised Barcelona last weekbecoming the first team in five years to beat the Catalans at home in a competitive game, with a 1–0 victory thanks to Erin Cuthbert’s first-half goal.
“We know they are a fantastic opponent, we know the storm that is coming and we have a lot of respect for them,” Bright told BBC Sport.
“We are still at halftime. It was a fantastic result and performance from the girls [in Spain] but equally we know that Barça were probably not at their best.”
Bright captained England in the World Cup final last year, 12 months after helping the Lionesses win Euro 2022 – but that is as far as his club can get in manager Emma Hayes’ final season.
European giants Barcelona have played in four of the last five Women’s Champions League finals – winning twice. His squad includes two players – Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati – who have won the last three Ballon d’Ors between them.
“They will absolutely step up. We have to make sure we are on our A-game otherwise this result means nothing if we don’t get the job done on Saturday,” Bright added.
“We are in an excellent position and we know that the important thing is to stay connected. It is a team against which we cannot afford to stumble or take our foot off the accelerator, because they will punish you.”
‘I love being the underdog’
Last week’s defeat was Barcelona’s first at home since February 2019 in Spain last week and showed Chelsea’s progression in Europe.
They were 4-0 rout for Barça in their only last appearance of 2021, before a narrow defeat at Stamford Bridge in last season’s semi-finals proved costly in a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
With Hayes set to leave to manage the United States women’s national team this summer and Chelsea having failed to win either of their two domestic cups, the pressure has mounted to secure the Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League titles.
Bright is unfazed by the fact that Barcelona are the favorites and hopes a large crowd at Stamford Bridge on Saturday can help Chelsea – with more than 34,000 tickets already sold – book their place in the European final.
“We are definitely the underdogs in this draw and that’s okay – we know our place and our role,” she said.
“But like Emma [Hayes] always says that any team can be defeated. It’s how you prepare to do it.
“I know everyone said [the first leg] it was an absolute masterclass from Emma. It was a credit to the players to stick to that game plan – and it worked, we got the result.”
Bright added: “We’re going to give it our all and it’s extra motivation knowing this is Emma’s last season.
“We need all the fans there. We need a packed and absolutely rocking stadium. The fans have an incredible impact on the game. We felt that when we went to Barcelona.”
‘This season has been one of the most chaotic’
Bright missed five months with a knee injury but returned to the squad last week and insists she is “fully prepared” for the second leg.
“That was my goal: to get selected for this game,” Bright said. “I knew it was an important game for us and we needed everyone there.
“On the leadership side, it’s difficult to contribute when you’re not physically present. I was very proud to be back.
“It’s been a very difficult season for me personally, but I’m happy to be back at the end of the season.”
Bright took on the Chelsea armband this summer and admits it has been a challenging season for the club – and personally, even absent through injury.
“I feel like I’ve been a bit of a mom this season. I am a sociable person and I take care of the people around me, whether they are employees or players. “, said Brilhante.
“This season has been one of the most chaotic. We had players injured, new signings arriving and the announcement of Emma [Hayes] leaving. It seems like there was a lot packed into one season.
“We had a lot to sort out, so I’m really proud of the girls’ mentality, their professionalism and the way they handled those situations. It’s been a tough season, for sure.”
