4 weeks ago
Millie Bright (right) was named successful nan matchday squad for nan first clip successful 5 months erstwhile she was an unused substitute successful nan 1-0 first limb triumph complete Barcelona"This is nan biggest crippled we're astir apt going to play successful our careers."
Chelsea skipper Millie Bright knows nan situation that faces her broadside connected Saturday erstwhile they invited defending champions Barcelona to Stamford Bridge for nan 2nd limb of their Women's Champions League semi-final.
The Blues stunned Barcelona past week, becoming nan first squad successful 5 years to hit nan Catalans connected location ungraded successful a competitory crippled pinch a 1-0 triumph acknowledgment to Erin Cuthbert's first-half strike.
"We cognize it's a awesome opponent, we cognize nan large wind that's astir to travel and we person a batch of respect for them," Bright told BBC Sport.
"It's still half-time. It was a awesome consequence and capacity from nan girls [in Spain] but equally, we cognize that Barca were astir apt not astatine their best."
Bright captained England to nan World Cup last past year, 12 months aft helping nan Lionesses triumph Euro 2022 - but this is arsenic large arsenic it gets for her nine successful head Emma Hayes' last season.
European giants Barcelona person played successful 4 of nan past 5 Women's Champions League finals - winning twice. In their squad are 2 players - Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati - who person won nan past 3 Ballon d'Ors betwixt them.
"They will perfectly ramp it up. We person to make judge we're connected our A-game different that consequence intends thing if we don't get nan occupation done connected Saturday," added Bright.
"We are successful a awesome position and we cognize it's astir staying switched on. It's a squad that we can't spend to gaffe up against aliases return our ft disconnected nan state because they will punish you."
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'I emotion being nan underdog'
Last week's nonaccomplishment was Barcelona's first astatine location since February 2019 successful Spain past week and it showed Chelsea's progression successful Europe.
They were thrashed 4-0 by Barca successful their only last quality successful 2021, earlier a constrictive conclusion astatine Stamford Bridge successful nan semi-finals past play yet proved costly successful a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
With Hayes group to depart to negociate nan US women's nationalist squad this summertime and Chelsea having grounded to triumph either of nan 2 home cups, unit has accrued to unafraid nan Women's Super League and Women's Champions League titles.
Bright is not fazed by Barcelona being favourites and hopes a large crowd astatine Stamford Bridge connected Saturday tin thief Chelsea - pinch much than 34,000 tickets already sold - unafraid their spot successful a European showpiece.
"We are decidedly nan underdogs successful this tie and that's good - we cognize our spot and our role," she said.
"But arsenic Emma [Hayes] ever says, immoderate squad tin beryllium beaten. It's really you group yourselves up to do that.
"I cognize everyone said [the first leg] was an absolute masterclass by Emma. It was a in installments to nan players to bargain into that gameplan - and it worked, we sewage nan result."
Bright added: "We will springiness everything and it's other information knowing that this is Emma's past season.
"We request each azygous instrumentality there. We request nan stadium packed and perfectly rocking. The fans make an unthinkable effect connected nan game. We felt it erstwhile we went to Barcelona."
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'This play has been 1 of astir chaotic'
Chelsea leader Emma Hayes (left) and skipper Millie Bright (right) applauded nan distant fans successful Spain pursuing their first-leg victoryBright missed 5 months pinch a knee wounded but returned to nan squad past week and insists she is "fully fit" for nan 2nd leg.
"That was my target - to beryllium selected for that game," said Bright. "I knew it was a monolithic crippled for america and we needed everyone there.
"From a activity side, it's difficult to lend erstwhile you're not physically there. I was conscionable proud to beryllium back.
"It's been a very difficult play for maine personally but I'm gladsome to beryllium backmost for nan extremity of nan season."
Bright took complete nan armband astatine Chelsea this summertime and admits it has been a challenging play for nan nine - and personally while absent done injury.
"I consciousness for illustration I've been a spot of a mother this season. I'm a group personification and I return attraction of nan ones astir me, whether that's unit aliases players. I've felt an other request to do that this year," said Bright.
"This play has been 1 of nan astir chaotic. We've had players injured, caller signings coming successful and nan announcement of Emma [Hayes] leaving. It feels for illustration there's been truthful overmuch crammed into 1 season.
"We've had a batch to return attraction of truthful I'm truthful proud of nan girls' mentality, their professionalism and nan measurement they've handled those situations. It's been a difficult season, for sure."
