The victory was much deserved for a performance in which Barcelona’s usual slick and swift passing game was stultified by Chelsea’s tenacity and game-plan, most apparently through the performance of Cuthbert. The victory gives Chelsea a narrow but critical advantage heading into the second leg on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. “We know it’s a fantastic opponent, we know the storm that’s about to come and we have a lot of respect for them.
It’s still half-time. It was a fantastic result and performance from the girls [in Spain] but equally, we know that Barca were probably not at their best.” Bright’s sentiment is similar to that expressed by USA-bound Hayes after her side’s victory last weekend, in which the soon-to-be departing Hayes expressed her frustration that Chelsea had not seized more of an advantage to take home with them.
Even a goal down, Barcelona represent one of the most daunting opponents in women’s football. Indeed, the Spanish giants have played in four of the past five Women’s Champions League finals, claiming the title twice. Their squad oozes quality and pedigree, including two of the last three Ballon d’Or winners: Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.
And Bright, who has been out with a knee injury for the last five months but insists she’s “fully fit” for the second leg after returning to the bench for the first, is under no false pretences regarding the fight awaiting on Saturday. The Blues were foiled at this stage last season as they suffered a 2-1 aggregate loss to Barcelona in last year’s semi-finals, while in 2021, they were undone 4-0 by a rampant Barcelona attack in the finals. And with two of the three domestic trophies now out of the question for the Blues, the pressure has increased to deliver in Europe to provide Hayes the send-off she deserves.
“They will absolutely ramp it up. We have to make sure we’re on our A-game otherwise that result means nothing if we don’t get the job done on Saturday,” she said. “We are in a great position and we know it’s about staying switched on.
It’s a team that we can’t afford to slip up against or take our foot off the gas because they will punish you.” Bright added: “We are definitely the underdogs in this draw and that’s fine – we know our place and our role. But as Emma [Hayes] always says, any team can be beaten.
It’s how you set yourselves up to do that.” “We will give everything and it’s extra motivation knowing that this is Emma’s last season.” Chelsea face Barcelona at Stamford Bridge at 5:30pm on Saturday afternoon.