The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - Chelsea Drop Points, City Extend League Lead And Trinity Rodman Secures Huge New Deal

Episode Date: January 28, 2026

In a potentially season-defining weekend in the WSL title race; Chelsea dropped points losing at home to Arsenal, leaving leaders City with a 9-point advantage. Does Millie think the race is over, or is there still hope? And how do Chelsea pick themselves up for another massive game at Manchester City this weekend? In other WSL news Liverpool secured their first win of the season over Tottenham, and Aston Villa fell to a strong Manchester United side. Millie and Rach also discuss last week’s League Cup semi-finals and the BIG news coming out of the NWSL regarding Trinity Video Editor: Joe Pettit Social Producer: Emma Jackson Assistant Producer: Max'ed Aadan Producer: Gabby Lloyd Exec Producer: Jon Gill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Olivia loves a challenge. It's why she lifts heavy weights and likes complicated recipes. But for booking her trip to Paris, Olivia chose the easy way with Expedia. She bundled her flight with a hotel to save more. Of course, she still climbed all 674 steps to the top of the Eiffel Town. You were made to take the easy route. We were made to easily package your trip. Expedia, made to travel.

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Search British Gas, peak save to find out more. Terms and eligibility apply. Peak save requires a smart meter and normal standing charges apply. Hello and welcome to Daily Brightness. We are here as always to discuss the week. weekend football but before we do here's our checking best it how are you i'm bestie i'm really good actually yeah obviously i had a little bit of in my emotions kind of day after the result but quickly got out of that and yeah i think just in those moments just again zooming out a little bit

it's been a good week it's been a really good week uh spoke to my nephews a lot been getting funny videos off my mom of alby um finnie and harvey are doing well with their football and school so that's been nice but yeah it's been it's been good i've actually had a declutter in the house as well which we love to do i was going to do that today but i got i had a really lazy day today just felt like it was needed you need a lazy day sometimes i know but yeah just had a declutter and that makes me always feel better so yeah it's been life has been good how about you yeah good it's quite slow at the minute obviously not playing football but just sort of taking day by day and rolling with it trying to be there for the team as much as i can off the

pitch. The one good thing we can say is summer's coming. Yeah, it is. I'm excited for summer actually. I've been looking at holidays the other day. What are you looking at? Just everywhere, really. Just having a little nose.

I think of just a bit bored. You know, and like your routine gets taken away. You're just like, what am I'm doing? I don't feel like this month's been super long though, January. Yeah, and like roll on pay day because it's like 84 weeks since we've been paid. It's so annoying. Seriously. And a million outgoings in this month, like a million.

January is so expensive. But no, yeah, I think just trying to just plodding along. Steady weeks are a good week We can't be on the go all the time Yeah but I think that's also what's been really hard Because I've had to like really slow down Yeah Not something you're good at best in

No and like routine change is not something I'm good at either We don't like change do we No we really don't so like yesterday Obviously I was at the game and I've never watched a game at Villa Park I've never watched us play How are you finding it watching? It's hard in it It's hard it's really really hard

Yeah really hard But I think it's probably more so harder for me because I haven't done it. Like, it's all new. It's all like a new experience. So it's like, you know, I don't have the same prep. I'm showing up for kickoff. Like, I'm doing Q&As with the fans.

I'm not on the pitch. It's all a lot. It's a lot of change. The WSR was back this weekend. So let's start it with your game. Unfortunately, a loss against Arsenal, which is never good for you, obviously. Any loss, but I think for you, Arsenal's probably the worst one.

So hit me off with that one. I think. Really weird game actually, like really, really bizarre. First of the crowd, like, the fans were incredible. It was such a good atmosphere. And we started the game really strongly. Like, first off, just felt in control, felt solid. And defensively, we felt really good.

We were creating chances. But again, we're not converting. We're not scoring. And this is the difference. And it goes back to that point what we spoke about last time when we beat like a West Ham 5-0 or whatever. And I'm kind of like, oh, but we should have. scored more and everyone's like, yeah, but you won 5-0.

And I'm like, yeah, but I know that when it comes to these sorts of games and it's a top opposition and you're limited to chances, you need to score. Bexler, please stop that. You need to score. So it's like, that's when it matters. You've got to take your chances against this team. And we had equal opportunities. They scored two.

We didn't. But it was really bizarre because half time we came in, you know, we felt really good. Like, everything was, was, yeah, like we felt comfortable. And listen, they had like a couple shots. and whatever and drag them wide, but you're playing against the top opposition. I think people start panicking sometimes when you concede chances against top teams,

but that's going to happen. You're not going to keep Arsenal from having a shot. You're not like, that's just the nature of the game. It's super competitive. They're a top, top team. But I thought it was like even Stevens, to be honest, at half time. And then second half, they literally,

for their two goals, they had two moments, scored them both. And, yeah, could say, like errors from us and then we just couldn't score like we couldn't and then they started piling the pressure on

and yeah I think momentum was with them second half more so than us but it was a weird one because you came away with a loss but it didn't feel like you got battered kind of thing I think the hardest thing is now obviously you went into that game

six points behind city now it's nine that is a huge gap for you to bridge and a bit of a mountain to climb I think you like that sort of like you relish in that sort of fight you know what I mean? Yeah I mean we won not last year the year before we should have not won the league

like we shouldn't have we had to make up a goal difference something crazy goal difference and then we ended up beating a team 8-0 and then we beat man United at Old Trafford 6-0 we won the league we'd all been row off like people were already celebrating that Chelsea had last league

That's when the Chelsea fans like Maphis was going against City Yeah and it was like we didn't rely on anyone when we actually technically should have been relying on other people to do a job and you obviously helped us out kindly. But we won it through just, we never accept a feat. Like it is never over until it's over. Like it isn't.

So I am never ever. And you can't think that far ahead because anything can happen. There's so many games left. And we've got a city to play. And as you've seen in this league so far this season, anyone can beat anyone. Did you watch the London City game? No.

We were playing at the same time. So it was obviously, It was on the telly, but listen, like, people probably would have expected City just to walk the floor, but they really didn't. Like, they hit the pose. They had so many one-on-ones. Like, they could have scored like two or three goals. Easy.

It could have been a complete different game. So, and they're a top team. But listen, there's far too many games left in this season to be saying that anything's done with. So in my eyes, we've got a massive game this weekend. We've got City. You know, we go and beat that. It's back to six. And then it's all to play for.

Like, everyone's still got everyone to play. And yeah, I just think, I don't know, there's just too many games left. Like, it's, it's not over till it's over. I think that's what I really, really enjoy about the league. And especially this year, I think the league's wide open for like, not wide open as such, but wide open for, like, anyone to sort of achieve something. So much can happen. So much can happen from now until the last game.

You lose one game. It's like, you can drop like three, three places in the league. It's mad, it's mad, honestly, but that's what I really enjoy. But I think you've, moved on to the London City City game. I think we should talk about that because obviously Bunny scoring late I think that's another thing you've got to do against City.

Buddy's always going to pop up. That's the type of, like the calibre of player that she is and I think that she can make things happen at any point in the game. And I think when you're, when you draw them with City and by the 84th minute, I think it was, 86 minute, like, listen, they could have had chances they hit the boss so many times.

I saw as well hit the bar. City's second goal was so scrappy. Like, it was so scrappy. And to be fair, it was preventable. Like, London City tried to play out as a bad pass back to the keeper. Could have prevented the corner. You don't get that corner. You know, do they end up going and scoring?

I don't know. But even that, it's, I'm hoping, you know, my players are watching that game and believing that we can go away and get a win this weekend. And then, you know, I think it goes to show, like I said, people would have just expected City to walk all over them. is not this league whatsoever. It goes back to what I was saying about Chelsea in the past. Like, you, when you're that good and you're playing that well,

and momentum's with you, and it's almost like luck is on your side, you create your own luck by the talent that you have. If things fall for you, they definitely fall. You create it yourself, but they do fall for you. That's what I mean. And maybe city last year, two years ago, that that's a one-one game, that finishes one-one. So I think that's credit to them and the team that they've built

and, you know, the energy around them. I think they've learned how to do that, you know. I think they've learned how to win Scrappy and I think that's something that's always lacked, been lacking in their game, like finding the way over the line and finding whatever it takes to get the win. I think that's because you see City as like a pretty football kind of team

but you need all the elements. Oh, listen, they've been fantastic this season. Like, they really have. But it is, I love how interesting like the last, this last block of the season is. I always call it business end of the season and I think it's going to be fantastic for supporters because, you know, like you said, you drop a point or a couple points, lose a game,

you can go from the third to fifth, like, real quick. So it is going to be interesting. But I thought Godfrey was brilliant for London City. Lionesses, I think just a shout out to Earth or for a young player as well. I think she's one that's on the rise, didn't she? Like, I think she's a really tidy-level player. The confidence to play like she did, though, take players on 1V1, her goal was fantastic. And I think London City, I think just a mention on them is, you know, the quality

that they showed against City and the bravery, like high in attack, aggressive, playing out, playing through the thirds like there. Some really good passages of play. So it was actually really, it was a good game to watch. But I think, yeah, obviously City is showing their grit and a new side to them, I guess,

that we're not used to seeing and doing whatever it takes to win, something that we're not used to seeing. So yeah, game on. Game on, bestie. Love that. Moving on to your game. Weird one, really weird one. Because if anyone watched that game,

like it wasn't a four-one to United game at all, and I'm not being biased, but we go down, conceded a corner, straight from a corner, and they always think they're jammy. Like, I don't think many people mean to put the more on the back on it from a corner. But nonetheless, we went on and scored Kirsty, who's absolutely flying on fire at the minute

when he scored, not long after. Brilliant goal, did see a goal, actually. Yeah, about two, three minutes after. So going into half-time at one, I think was a pretty fair, fair representation of the first half. And then second half, they stepped up a little bit. Like they sort of got into a new gear, made a couple of subs. We made a couple of subs.

And then we conceded three in seven minutes. And that's so unlike us. I think we've had a struggle against city, obviously. But it was hard to watch that because I thought we actually were really not in control, but you know, at 1-1, you think in 71st minute 1-1. Yeah. Against Man United is, you know. Yeah, you'd take it.

Yeah. It's been a good place. And I think when the second goal went in, it felt almost like they were going, they were coming for blood then. You know, it's 2-1 to them. You can think they could sit off. They could just play it safe a little bit. But they went, all guns blazing.

And I think that's something, again, that you can't do against top teams. If it's 2-1, you know, you sort of got to think, right, right, we can chase the game in here. It's 71 minutes. You've got 20 minutes, 20-plus minutes. get an equaliser. We had a big chance, which I think,

can't remember if it was before 2-1 or after 2-1, which again then could have been 2-2 or 2-1-us. And that's a different game. And, you know, they scored 71, 75, 79, and it's like, it's a tough pill to swallow that because it just did not reflect the game.

Like, that was that mad seven minutes, like does not reflect the game whatsoever. I think they're the hardest games, you know, when the result, like, people see the result, but it's not how the game is. they're like the worst games for me, I hate it. Yeah, it was frustrating, I think,

especially to watch and knowing that you can't influence the game or you can't help out or, you know, that was a hard one to watch because I'm like 71st minutes, one-one, we're doing fine, like. Yeah, I think just a little shout out to Jess Park, though. I think she's been amazing for them and I think she's really starting to, like, be their playmaker. I saw her after the game, she was like, I'm knackered, my legs are killing.

She really is a playmaker for them, though, and I think, again, it just goes to show. what a move does fear and yeah, I think she's really at like a peak performance now. Yeah, I think she is always going to be a world-class player, but seeing her thrive at United this year has been really nice to see for her. I think, you know, she had a bit of a tough run going out on loan a lot, not really getting much playing time at the city, and then making that move to better a career and better herself

and give her the best opportunity, I think it's really, really taking a game to the next level. But, yeah, positives to take for us. I think we got, one of our youngsters came in, made a debut for us, and that was nice. It's always nice and pleasing to see. Yeah. Jenna Nies Wonga got her first, like, appearance at Villa. Yeah, seen that. That's nice.

Little things like that you want to run with rather than focusing too much on, you know, conceding three and seven minutes. But anyway, Liverpool Spurs, wild, like, wild. I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever would have predicted that to happen. Like, obviously Spurs are flying. Liverpool, bottom of the league. You don't expect that to happen, but Miranda B, two in a minute. Like straight from kickoff. Take a bow, girl.

Take a bow. So I think massive for Liverpool, really bad result for spurs. Yeah, hopefully they keep their momentum going though. They've had a rough period, Liverpool. But yeah, maybe they're on the up now. Yeah. And then Lester, again, another loss, which is a tough one to take. Obviously get more of the scoop from Sarah, obviously being there.

But she said it was from her opinion, not a game that was like they shouldn't have won that game. They had chances. First away win for West Ham. Yeah, I think there's a big, big loss for Leicester that one. But it's bottom of the table is going to be a tight one, I think, in this part of the season. Brighton Everton, I actually watched that one. Didn't really know which way that was going to swing. But Everton has a bit of an even game, you know.

Everton haven't won at home this year. I think that's wild. Like their first year at Goodison, like that's not a great start, is it? You want your home ground to be, you know, they're the fixtures where you're relishing him and you know, it's, that's the place where you should be the hardest to beat. But maybe learn after next weekend because we've got them away next weekend. Yeah, if you could just hold off to learn your best is. Guys, that is it for the WSL.

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Welcome back, everybody. Before we get onto some big news over in the NWSL, we are just going to quickly chat over the league cup game, Chelsea, against City. We've been playing them a lot lately. We've got them again this weekend. As always. But that game was like a final. It always is. We always play City in the semifinals, but I think it's always a great game against them. And it was, yeah, nerve-wracking at times and, you know, hitting the bar and they had chances, we had chances. But, yeah, I think it was everything that you could have expected from a semifinal. And the most important thing is we got the win. Good header. Really good goal. Enjoyed that goal.

Yeah, brilliant goal, but awful conditions to play in. And listen, we don't care if we have to play a scrappy game and knee-bobble shin, wins taking it everywhere, get it up the pitch. You know, we'll adapt to anything. And it was one of them games where we just had to see it out pretty much for 90 minutes. And yeah, we had a little bit of luck on our side, but I think we worked hard for it. And honestly, it could have gone either way, to be honest. But, yeah, I think for the fans, it was exciting at least.

but yeah I'd much prefer not to be 1-0 for the majority of the game next time but we're in the final that's all that matters I'm going on the final against Manu as they beat Arsenal so we'll be all lies on that on March 15th can't wait

we shall now onto the big NWSL Trinity Rodman Deal how good is that I think that is just absolutely massive women's football because she was linked with Arsenal she was linked with Chelsea

like she would have had a big move overseas and that is a player who I think has one of the biggest futures ahead of her. I remember playing against her for England, like directly up against her and I was just like, this girl's got it, man, like she's just got it. She's actually got a little bit of everything. Yeah, and I just think like she's one v1, she's creative, she scores loads of goals.

She's, she's just got that like aura. It's a bit like LJ, I think. Yeah, she gets stuck in though. Yeah, like I think that aura that you can't sort of, you just know that they know they've got it and you know they've got it and you can't really do a right lot. What else I love, though, I love her celebrations and I would love to see. Do you know why? Because that, it shows what it means.

And some people say, oh, you celebrate too much. You never ever can celebrate too much in football. Like, whenever she scores, she's so passionate and it means something. And it's so engaging for the fans. I wish more people would like, would celebrate that. And maybe I'd love to see that a little bit more in our league. Yeah, but I love it. I absolutely.

I seen her when she scored for American. She's going and trying to dance with everyone. and Emma's like, absolutely not. But I also think her being captain at 23, I think she is. 23, yeah. Like, huge thing, massive. And it shows the respect Emma has for her and the nation has for her and a team have for her.

So I think, again, yeah, it's massive that a team in the NWSL has gone all out and to do that to keep her. I think it shows how much, one, they value the women's game out there. Two, they show that they value the growth and that's going to come with this deal. and also the fact that they're willing to make change and compromise to protect their players and to make sure that they've got the best league

and that they're attracting players to the NWSL. They could have let her go and made thousands. Like she would have gone for a lot of money. Exactly. Which in the NWSA, like that's huge. You could have signed four or five unbelievable players for what you'd have sold there for. But I think it shows, like you say,

like how much they value her and what qualities that she has that Washington Spirit like may want to nail down for three years. So amazing for her, amazing for Spirit, amazing for the NWSL, and amazing for women's football. Right, on to Millie's favourite thing. Block and Delete,

before we get into mine and rate tools, we are going to have a few from the audience. First one, help me with the... April. It's just spelt different. Yeah. Okay. Trendy.

People putting tuna... Huh? People put in tuna anything in the work fridge. Like anything with tuna. Yeah, I would agree with that. The smell goes through everything. Yeah, block and delete. Also, I don't like when players pack like food up at lunch

and then they go and leave it in the changing room. No, that's block and delete. It stinks, absolutely stinks. Leave it outside and collect it on your way out. Yeah, I agree with the tuna. I like tuna, but it does stink. Block and delete, yeah, we agree with you. Next one from Zoe.

Block and delete knobs not saying thank you and you let them pass in the road. I agree with that. Yeah, I agree. It's rude. I didn't have to let you go. Someone lets you go, thank you, mate.

It's not hard, is it? If you do that and I would purpose to then go, you welcome, you welcome. Oh, just flash. Little flash, a little hands up, simple. It's just a common courtesy on the road.

Block and delete. I'm loving these ones because we agree with them. Last one from Sue. Cyclists who ignore red lights, completely, exclamation of her, she's fuming. It always causes me so much stress. Well, I mean, yeah, like, if you're going to, I'm not going to lie, right, this could get so many people's backs up, but I don't like cyclists at all.

Like, I just think, yeah, if you're going to be on the road, right, abide by the rules. Abide by the road's rules. If I drove through a red light and hit a cyclist, they'd have a lot to say. Exactly. And I'll agree with cyclists, because when I used to, when I was little and we used to take the horse out on the road, bearing in mind, horses has come before cars. period. We were there first, thank you very much. With the carts, horse and carts and all that. And cyclists always used to get mood in.

Be like, get off the roads. We were like, we were here first. And we're legally allowed to be on the roads. And they were the aggiest people ever. And my horse will stomp you off your bike, pal. Darling, I'll get in to boot you're in your head. I agree with all these. These are good ones today.

I like these today. A round of applause for our audience. Block and delete. Brilliant, baby. Right. Bestie, what's yours? mine this week is well as you can see there's a carrier bag there

so mine is how expensive carrier bags are at a shop like ridiculous do you say even though I get it nearly I have 300 bags yeah but then do you forget to take them back

that's my fault I get that I fold them up like my mum taught me where you put them in the triangles and wrap the handles over so they're all like in one big bag I'm just shoving them in a bag no it's great it's easy because you could just throw them in your car but you don't take it

back to the shop though, dear. I forget every single time. But I've been better because I've bought a bag for life and I keep putting it back in my car. So it's there now because I know it'll annoy me being on the side. So I will put it in my car. But it's so frustrating. I'm like, you see me?

I'd be the one that carries got stuff all over me head, like trying to walk out of the shop because I'm not paying for it. I hate that. Everything's so expensive. Even freaking drop-offs at Gatwick now. 10 pound! Is that your block and delete? No, my block and delete is putting bedding on. Anybody want to be paid to do my money.

bed in. I freaking ate it. Why can't you just throw your bed in on your bedding? Just go trying to put the bed sheet on a mattress and then you've got one corner and it pings off and the other side pings off. No, but I go on my knees and I'm like crumbed. Yeah, but then I'm just star

starfishing and I'm stuck because it's a super king bed, king size bed and I'm like, I'm just ready to sleep with no sheets, whatever, I'm over it. You need to maybe just weigh it down with something. That's my block and delete. Changing bedding, I freaking ate it. Now, my favourite time of the day gratitude Millie

what are you grateful for this week this week I am grateful for do you know what it is I'm grateful for my best friend AJ or one of my best friends Best it we're related by blood honey

we are sewed our souls are sewed together like that Do you want to rephrase that before we go on All right I'm very grateful for one of my best friends AJ Rachel is my soul sister

We could have said like my guy best friend. Yeah, my guy best friend. It's just been a really funny week. Like we had a really good catcher. He came to the game and it's one of the things like schedules are so busy. We don't really get chance. God, known him like 10 years now.

And it's just one of them weeks where we've just been sending reels, loads of reels and just, you just find yourself stuck in reels and then you just laughing. And I feel like I needed that. I needed to, 2026, I've promised myself that I'm going to make sure I have more checkings with people. and not just like on the phone, but taking time to actually physically go.

Because you know what it is? Life takes over, things get too busy. Before you know it, you've got no time left in your week or your schedule. And I just think that's not good enough. Like I'm not going to allow that to be a reason why I don't see people for months on end. So I like that. For all my close people, I'm going to do better.

Nice. You're going to laugh at my gratitude this week. I went like with a person last week, so I thought I needed to switch it up. I'm really grateful for chickpeas. Right, they are so versatile. So today I have made... All right, Gordon Ramsey, here she goes.

Chick-peas, roasted them in the air fryer, toss them with paprika, salt. Go on the girl. Everything but the bagel seasoning, which, by the way, chef's kiss. And what a great light snack, full of protein, healthy. Keep your poos regular. And then I've made, roasted them with a lot in the air fryer, dark chocolate, literally chickpea dark chocolate bites, healthy snack.

Right, we are going to be bringing out a Daily Brightness snack book. Right, that is it for this episode. I've enjoyed this episode. Thank you as always for listening to Daily Brightness. Look out for Thursday's episode. We've got a fab interview for you. There's something a little bit different. Do not miss it.

Get in touch on socials at Daily Brightness and have a great week. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me.