We Are Chelsea - Life In Blue: Erin Cuthbert

Episode Date: May 6, 2024

This is We are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with Škoda, the official car partner of Chelsea Women and proud supporters of women's sport. www.skoda.co.uk Caz De Moraes is back at Cobham, and is joined by podcast regular Erin Cuthbert! She is here to discuss her life in blue, and tells us all how she had to quit her job in Morrisons to come and play for the club full time... not a bad upgrade. We also delve into her favourite moments in a Chelsea shirt, her development as a player under Emma's management and how much it has meant to her to captain the team this season. Remember to subscribe and leave a review, wherever you get your podcasts! Send us your questions to [e-mail] To watch the full episode on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/@chelseafc/videos#WeAreChelsea Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I called my dad right away. I was like, Dad, I've got an email. I've got a contract for Chelsea. I was working in Morrison's. What do you mean? What do you mean? I need to send my P-45 to Morrisons. How did Morrison's react?

You know what? You have to serve the notice period. No, I'm joking. Hello and welcome to We Are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with Skoda, the official car partner of Chelsea women, and proud supporters of women's sport.

I'm Kaz de Mores, and today I'm joined by an absolute fan favourite. She joined Chelsea as a teenager back in 2016. She's a Scottish international and, of course, has captained Chelsea this season. I am talking about Erin Cuthbert, and this is her life in blue. Erin, welcome back to the podcast. We're so happy you're back. We didn't scare you off. How are you?

I'm here. I'm still standing. and yeah, glad I've been invited back. Must have done a good job. You did. Well, you never fail to entertain on and off the pit and everyone talks about it. All your other teammates like Erin,

she's just a big joker and really makes us laugh. Oh, no. Oh, no. I wonder what they've actually said. All good, all good, I promise. I want to talk to you about your life in blue. So you've been here since 2016. How has the club changed?

facilities, staff, food, everything, tell me. I mean, it just keeps growing year on year. I think staff is the biggest thing, probably facilities as well. We used to, downstairs, we used to have changing rooms for the academy. And, you know, I think we only had one or two physios at the time. One analysis, I think, or two analysis. So it was all a bit crazy. I think honestly we've probably doubled our staff size

since I joined the club probably doubled our squad size as well where we've been at it but I think it's just it grows with like the increased demands in the game and the margins are getting even tighter than they've ever been year on year they get smaller and smaller and smaller

and I think you keep needing the best in the game to keep giving you that competitive advantage you grew up in Scotland am I going to say it right Irvine Irvin Arvin Arvin Arvin

Arvin You sound Irish but I know That works That works She's like I'll take Irish Over English

No comment But you And you've played for various teams Some of the first teams That you played for were Rangers in Glasgow City Tell us about

What it was like When you got the call That Chelsea were interested Wow like yeah it makes me excited when I think back we actually played Chelsea in the Champions League six months before I actually ended up joining Chelsea I got substituted after 13 minutes

that's the biggest like disrespect that's ever happened in my career my hands down I think it was 13 maybe it was 17 I think Chelsea scored and then it was a tactical decision but I you know I mean when a player gets subbed after before 20 minutes come on I hadn't even touch the ball. You can't even say I've done anything wrong. The goal wasn't even directly caused by me. But yeah, still hasn't got over it, I can tell. No, that one still really,

really hurts. So I thought, oh, that's my chance gone. Like, no chance I'm getting, I moved to England when, you know, people notice that you've been subbed after 20 minutes. You're, you're effectively the scapegoat, if you like. But then, you know, a couple of months later, I got, I got wind that maybe they were interested in having me down for a trial. Totally understand because they hadn't seen me play literally totally get it

makes sense right and that girl that got subbed bring her down for a trial yeah you know that when they got subbed after 17 minutes

yeah find her we want her but for like for me it was all about waiting for the right opportunity I knew I wanted to play

in England had an offer I think about six months before for another WSL team at the time and who it was um doncaster rovers bells when they were in the top league um so yeah they were really interested and you know it didn't quite materialise because i was studying at the time and

they couldn't sort of facilitate that as well um in the housing but yeah i ended up waiting going to chelsea i was i was training full time still in scotland you know i wasn't playing full time i was training i was training like a full-time athlete i was doing full-time studies so it was it was a lot and then when I got asked to go down and train at Chelsea it was an all-brainer see where it goes see what happens yeah it's a big club I'm I'm stressed like that was a big move big jump um so what was the trial like is it like one day is it a week well it's it doesn't really happen anymore that's the bottom line trials don't really happen anymore at this level um but it was three days okay I came down to stay at the

Hilton Cobham, remember it so well. Remember getting a steak the night before the game, had a big game. Steak in Chuts was superb from there, by the way. But it was so strange because I was 18 year old girl coming down to London. Didn't he bring my family? Like I just came down myself, stayed in the hotel.

I think it was the first time that I had properly travelled by myself like that. That's going to be quite daunting. It was daunting and it was quite nerve-wracking as well. A car's picking you up in the morning. Like, you don't know what to expect. Like, you see these girls on the TV like you don't know how where am I going to be in comparison to them is the level going

to be so high that I feel like I'm drowning um so I trained for a couple of days and then on the third day we had a game against a boys team so it was perfect it was a chance to actually show myself right in a game and I scored an absolute peach I honestly I'm pretty sure that's the one that got me the contract um you know jemma davison who's who's at the club now says to this day like she'll never forget the goal that I scored in the trial. Really? Yeah, so that's pretty special. And I didn't even feel that I was getting on the ball enough.

You know, you know when you're the trialist? People don't want to pass to you because they don't trust you. You have to earn trust. You've got Katie Chapman and the team. You get Karen Carley, Millie Bright, Frank Kirby. Who wants to pass to the 18-year-old kid from Scotland? Nobody knows. It's on trial.

Nobody. So you have to go and make it happen, like yourself. So I think I ended up doing really well in the trial. And Emma then took me to the airport because I was going straight for the game, straight to the airport. and I was on the way to the airport and Emma was driving me because she said right

I'll drive you okay I was like okay Emma Hayes is taking me to the airport do I keep quiet or do I not say anything do I sit in the back

or do I sit in the front like where did you want me to sit I sat in the front okay I sat in the front I think there's too much rubbish in the back you know what Emma's like

and then she took me to the airport she was talking me through it said okay we're interested in you we want you we can't guarantee you'll play this is the honesty of it we can't guarantee you'll play you'll train with us

but you might play games with the reserve team I said okay okay I don't know what she's trying to get out of me she's like just so your expectations are met this is the way it's going to be so I was like I'm going from the Scottish Women's Premier League

being a fairly decent player there to then going to play reserves I was like oh is this for me is this honestly what I want to do and I was thinking you know what it's not going to be me it's not going to be me because I felt like I'd done well enough in the trial

that I was able to compete in training that I would never have to do that not that it's a bad thing but I would want to stay in the first team like you want to play in the first team you want to be at Chelsea you want to play in the first team and by the time self-assurance at 18

that's great it is but if you don't believe in yourself no one else will you have to it comes from within first and formal and yeah it was a big move a lot of people in Scotland were telling me oh I'm not sure I'm not sure I'm not sure I just said stuffed a lot of you I'm doing it I'm doing it why though why were they not sure because it was a big move quite soon and I think people maybe thought there was a step maybe a stepping stone in the middle which I completely understand I wanted to play it a bit more safe completely understand and do you know what that doesn't work for everyone and I will say that like some people have tried to do that and maybe they've not quite succeeded in that but I wouldn't say there's one path for everyone

and it's certainly not the same path but anyway when I go to the airport I thought what I chat with Em I said okay she wants me I've done well in the trial that's good so go through security go to Terminal 5 Wagamamas oh yeah absolutely what's your Wagga's order it was chicken catsu curry

I'm gluten free now but it was chicken catsu curry extra sauce obviously because there's never enough sauce on that thing There's never enough sores. You're so right. And I got there and I opened my phone and it was an email. And it was for Paul Green. It was a contract offer in the emails.

So by the time that Emma was talking to me, there was a contract offer in my email. He was probably drafting it up at Cobham while Emma was taking me to the airport. God, Emma, talk about mean what you say and say what you mean. She was moving. She was moving quick. So, yeah, like that was, I really felt wanted.

I felt like Emma wanted me. She wanted to develop me She said you've got a lot to learn You're a good player But you know By no means have you Have you made it yet And I always believe

Like your first professional contract You've definitely not made it Like you've just got one foot in the door And you're just getting started And that's kind of how I felt It was a bit of a clean slate at Chelsea And as soon as I got home I called my dad right away

I was like dad I've got a name I've got a contract for Chelsea I was working in Morrison's What do you mean What do you mean I need to send my people 45 to Morrisons when I get back. It was all a bit much.

I was studying full time. I was a year and a half into a degree. Like my life had been turned upside down in the best possible way, but it's still been turned upside down. Yeah. So, how did Morrison's react? You know what?

You have to serve the notice period. No, I'm joking. No, honestly, they were chocked. I think flabbergassie, to be honest. Like, who does that? But yeah, my little Saturday job at that got me the bills to pay to keep me going up to play for Glasgow City and it was my fuel costs and everything so yeah it was a great little job and I think everyone was just so

happy and shocked because a girl from from Irvin Scotland doesn't really make it to a club like Chelsea I mean Billy had done it as well we kind of followed in similar footsteps a couple of years after so I think there's definitely something special in that and what was your dad's reaction? He went, I'll see it when I get home. I'll read the details. I was off. Okay, Dad, but I have been offered a contract. Just let you know. He put his boss man hat on. Yeah, he was like, we'll work it out, see if it's, you know, financially viable and all that. Like, I was like, no, dad, I've been offered a contract with Chelsea. I'm going. I don't care what you say. I'll go for free if I need to, honestly. So that was the case. And I think there was a little bit of interest from,

I think Man City had a couple of chats with me. Okay. Nothing ever really materialised. and you know when Emma just made me feel so wanted from the moment we spoke and knew she wanted me and I knew Chelsea was the best place for me to develop and I knew that she was going to sort of take good care of me as well because my mum and dad

their daughter's leaving home for the first time it's a big deal for them as well and I think they felt safe that I was in good hands with Emma and the staff and you know the girls that I met over the three days they were all so lovely to me So yeah, I'm really, really grateful that everything happened the way it was

because it was kind of perfect in some way. This podcast is brought to you by Skoda, the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. Whether you're playing five aside after work, cheering the kids on from the sidelines on a Saturday morning or gathering with your mates to watch the big leagues at the weekend. Skoda's the perfect companion for your everyday adventures. Zip around town in the fully electric eniac

or give the squad a lift home in the all-new seven-seater kodiak. There's something in the range to suit teams of all shapes and sizes. Don't just take my word for it. Search the Skoda range today to jump in and see for yourself. You mentioned about the trial, but then now you're here, you've signed. Talk to me about the first few training sessions. How nervous were you? And who did you first see?

and who made you feel welcome but also overwhelmed where you're a bit starstruck yeah um a little bit starstruck like you know I had come at the time you'd signed crystal done marimielder Ramona Bachman all these top stars and captains for a country

and you've signed there in Cuthbert who like who is that so yeah the first couple of training sessions I was quite overwhelmed I was like just do the basics do do what I'm here to do kind of thing and don't do anything special sort of thing and the first couple of sessions I was like wow okay the speed is a lot quicker

I need to move the ball quicker I need to think quicker I need to run quicker like everything was just a level up in terms of tempo in comparison with the Scottish League and I remember going home every like my first few months

honestly and just going to sleep I was absolutely shattered I was shattered because everything that's so draining you've got to concentrate you're a full-time athlete like things changed for me and I was

had so many naps I mean I don't nap now but I really really needed it at the time yeah I can I mean to be fair hearing it and knowing that you were training full time but you weren't a full time athlete you had your Saturday job you were studying and then you had to go from it it's a big change it is a big change it was a big change for me and I think what I noticed and what was the best thing about Chelsea is actually gave me more rest it allowed me to be the best athlete I could be because how can you possibly be the best athlete if I was getting up at half five to leave the house at 6 a.m. to do a morning session to do then to do five hours at uni and train at 8 p.m. in the evening and get home at 11. So I was effectively left a house

at 6 a.m. and I was home at 11. Whereas a pro athlete, I left a house at maybe 9 and then I was home for 3 o'clock and then it actually gave me proper time to rest so that when my sessions did come it was quality rather than quantity. Absolutely. And then moving quickly to your debut, do you remember it? Do you remember the build-up? What was going through your mind? Was there, I don't know, a routine that you stuck to that you remember? No, I don't remember as such. I remember my goal, I think, against Yovo. Yeah. Yovotown. I remember the goal. I was absolutely buzzing. Can you believe it?

at Wheat Sheaf Park but I'd been waiting for my opportunity I think in the early stages it's all about earning trust from the manager from the players when I speak about like I want them to give me the ball and under tight spaces and tight positions but you have to earn that

trust with big players and you know slowly the first couple of months was all about just finding my feet wasn't it about making big impacts it was finding my feet and you know I think I've done that quite well how did the fans react to you and welcome you. In the beginning

we're probably like who considering all the names we'd signed and that's absolutely a fair point I'd have been the same if we'd sign someone now and you know you don't really know of them quite well and

you know at the time social media wasn't as big Scotland didn't have the same presence we hadn't been to a merger tournament then hadn't had any exposure at an international level with that yet so it was a surprise to the fans but I think slowly as I got on, I started just doing my best for the badge,

like doing my best for the team as soon as I come on, giving everything for the team. And I think as a fan, that's all you want to see. It's never ever about, you know, scoring all the goals or getting all the assists. It's just about giving your absolute best when you're on the pitch and whatever your best looks like. It's just about executing that. Yeah.

And so basically they saw that you did that and they were like, yeah, she'll be captain one day. We love her. Well, yeah, I mean, they probably never thought that at that time, but yeah, I think it was certainly my aim. As soon as I joined the club, there was, I'd grown a big affinity to, to it straight away. And I'm a Rangers fan traditionally, so we have a good connection with Chelsea in general. So my dad was, was quite happy as well. Did you ever think that your career, did you ever think, A, you'd be here for as long as you have, and that you'd be wearing the captains?

As I said, you're absolutely bonkers. I'd really, really would. like yes I wanted to be a professional footballer did I know did I think I'd ever be able to make it a true living not sure honestly because at the time it just didn't exist there was one or two FA cut finals on the TV each year so no I really really didn't and I guess it is a pinch me moment but it's still only just starting for me and did anything change when Emma asked you to step up and be captain

well me and knave temporarily so for sure but no nothing changed honestly i genuinely do act the same and behave the same way yes i have a greater consideration for others in making sure they're prepared but you have to take care of yourself first before you can take care of anyone else you got to look in before you look out sort of thing but yeah i think i've definitely grown into the role as as the months have gone on but you know we have missed milly we have missed Sam but it's nice being able to share it with Eve as well because we're kind of two completely different characters and it's been nice to be able to bounce things off her as well and get a second opinion on things. How do you think your teammates would describe you

as a captain? This makes me nervous. I think passionate. They know my team talks. They probably it's a lot of shouting, a lot of kind of gearing people up for the games. and you know I wear my heart in my sleeve so I'm a type of player that you know you can see all my emotions you can see when I'm angry I'm sad I want more from the team you can you can see it all but I mean I'm sure you're going to tell me what they said right well you're a big personality so that's what you know people always say yeah but you are inclusive you welcome them in Ashley said you were one of the first people to come and speak to her and to like welcome her you're very funny you're very funny you're very funny. I mean, I love knowing whenever they, I'm like, who've we got on the podcast? And your name comes up. I'm like, oh, this will be great. This will be fun. Do you know what? I think with that, no matter what happens with me

at Chelsea, no matter what I do on the pitch, no matter how many trophies I win, I think the biggest respect that you can earn and have is that people always thought you were a nice person off the pitch. And I want to be known for what I do off the pitch as much as I do on it. And having someone welcome you is such a small thing but it goes such a long way and people do not forget first impressions and for me I just want to treat people the way I was treated when I joined the club because I was welcomed

with such open arms and I would hope it's the same for every new player that comes into our environment now. Well being the captain and doing that I think is the best way that you're leading literally by example and they've all got good things to say I can promise you that. Do you think that I guess being captain and everything that's happened has helped you and will help you develop playing for Scotland. Yeah, without a doubt. I think I've had the Scotland armband couple of times. But it's definitely a different type of pressure,

but I think growing my leadership qualities at Chelsea and at club every single day, having daily habits like that can only help when you go to national team because I'm part of the leadership group at national team. we have an abundance of leaders in the group we have the captain obviously I've Ashton Villa Claire Emsley we have Caroline like there's so many leaders there

and I think I want to get Scotland to a major tournament and whatever I can do in my daily behaviours and my daily actions to help me get there and to help the team get there I will absolutely be willing to do so I think leadership is definitely helping

and I sort of bring a different perspective because, you know, we're involved in titles every single year. We're involved, like, different girls are maybe involved in relegation battles, like, you know, promotion into the WSL, competing in the SWPL. Like, everybody's bringing a different part to the table, and, you know, we're sort of competing at the top for the Champions League and the really, really pressure moments. And I've worked a lot under Emma, so, you know, I do say that I am a mini-emma,

I'm quite direct, like to get things done, whereas some people are maybe a bit laid-back bit different. think a perfect balance of that is so, so healthy. I'm going to ask you a really difficult question, but looking at your career in blue, is there one game that stands out to you as your favourite or your best game? Oh, God.

And why? Must be a couple. I think FAA Cup final, 2022, after extra time when we won against Manchester City. I ended up scoring the goal as well but I thought we'd lost it I really did when they scored And we took it to extra time

Because I had no legs I couldn't run If anyone tried to exploit me They would have absolutely have done that Because I had nothing left But I don't think anyone did Like we had gave everything that game We honestly gave everything

And just the pure euphoria at the end When you beat your biggest rival And you win a cut final at Wembley Like there's nothing more special than that seeing my family there like it's the best thing in the world like you can't even describe it you cannot describe sharing a moment with your family like that yeah it makes me really it makes me quite emotional and I think all my best games have came when they've been there because just feeling their support I always feel their support from home don't get me wrong I always know

they're watching every single game on the telly or the pre-match build-up they're doing all the analysis I feel that but it's different when they're in the stadium because they're share the moment with you. It's hard to explain the moment rather than share the moment and I think there's so many amazing moments with Chelsea like

it's difficult to even putting a podcast. I think we're going to need to have another one I guess. Gladly, I'll gladly have you on every week. I mean another tricky question who's the best player

that you've played with here at Chelsea? Oh, I think everybody's had such different qualities I've really and wow it is hot you can name with you

yeah I've really enjoyed I really enjoyed playing with you so young just of the pure technical brilliance she had at the time and she was so far superior in terms of her technical ability than everyone else at that point and I've really enjoyed playing with

Panella harder she's just a winner she's like me she'll do anything to win she doesn't care what's in her way like she is so focused on winning and i have so much respect for people like that to be fair i think i said something to ashley and she described you as a soldier willing to go to war for your team i will i'll i'll do whatever it takes you can shoot me in the chest you can shoot me in a leg i'll run with i'll run with one leg that's absolutely fine i'll do whatever the team needs me to and i'd run through a brick wall if i have to

i love that erin hopped it in I won't be saying that much longer yeah so there's been so many players like even Katie Chapman like seeing somebody in your position they type like again her attitude

to training to games like every single day see I think I really really respect the players who can turn it on every single day who can just get themselves up for it it doesn't matter if it's a big game or like oh people are watching

this game at this game's on the telly like see people who just just do it every single day and just turn the switch on every day. I have so much respect for because I think consistency is so overlooked in football and I respect so many people who do that and, you know, there's so many in our dressing room that do that and I'd certainly try and learn as best as I can off them. Have you got a favourite goal that you've scored since being here?

Barcelona. Maybe, maybe Barcelona or FA Cup final that I scored. against Manchester City of Wembley I think just of importance Leon away in the Champions League semi-final that was a special moment I was just a youngster you know chucked in midfield for the first time

and everything was all relatively new but I could even say another one Arsenal away when I scored Debrace at Arsenal and all the fans are booing you I think that's pretty good moment pretty good feeling

but yeah I think it's for me it's not about goals it really isn't I don't care who puts it in the net as long as we win genuinely as long as we win of course it's nice

when you score a wee goal and Emma keeps challenge you make to score more goals so I have to keep chipping in year on year but it's not everything to me it really ain't what did go through your mind

when you scored at Barcelona oh my God I scored against Barcelona oh my God oh my God oh my God that's running through your head like I'm sure that's running through everybody's head.

But yeah, just sheer relation that everything that we had worked on in training the day before was coming too fruition and I think as a team there's nothing better than executing a game plan perfectly and the team following it because you get so much energy from it.

You might not know if you're watching the game how well we're actually following it but in the moment it feels so good. Like that for me is the best feeling. What do you think has been your toughest moment here at Chelsea because we've talked a lot about the highs

and there's been so many but what's been the toughest moment? Yeah, a good question. I think I went through a period of not playing in 20, 21. I think eight, nine months,

not playing. Trying to prove to the manager. I feel like I'm doing a lot. Not getting very far. Not getting in the team. Sort of on the wrong side of the rotation and I wasn't really getting a look in and I feel that I was doing everything

and when you look back maybe I was doing everything but I was doing too much I was trying to prove myself too much and it was difficult but I feel like everybody needs to go through that process to needs to know what it feels like you need to not want that feeling again

like it's like losing like you don't want to feel it again so you try so hard to stay away from it and yeah that was a really difficult moment for me from my family as well because I was putting a lot on them I was really sad

and it then portrays to them and they see their daughter who's living away from home who's all alone in her apartment not happy and you know it transcends into it just snowball effect it gets worse and worse and worse and you feel like you can't get yourself out of it you want to do more but

you don't know what you can do more of so I think I really really struggled with that and at the time I was going through a few medical thing problems as well so it all was kind of it felt like it all came at one it was all so overwhelming

and you know I just I'm a footballer who wants to play everybody wants to play don't get me wrong but for me like I want it so bad that I'll fight for my spot all the time I'll be competitive

and you know at the time there was an Olympics and you know I've missed out in the squad of that as well because I wasn't playing and that is hard to take and that does it changes you It changes you as a person.

It changes your perspective. I hated football for a bit after. It took me a few months to get over all of that. But, I mean, we got there in the end. And it's about how you bounce back. It's about how you respond. It's about where you go from, where you go from there. Because you can either stay in that place or you can fight your absolute hardest to get yourself out of it.

And, you know, that's what I did. And I ended up having a really good rebound year, which I'm very proud of. I think that was actually my favorite year at Chelsea just because of what I'd been through the previous year. And, you know, I know Emma loves me and it comes from a great place, but she was really tough on me that year and I remember it so well.

But maybe that's the sort of thing that I needed to just keep me going, keep the spark alive. And it does really make you appreciate playing so much. How do you think your relationship with Emma has changed over the years and grown? I think she's trusted me a bit more. as well like I think trust is earned with Emma she she's a very caring manager she cares about what you do off the pitch she cares about how your home life is like I've really confided in

Emma at times as well and you know it does affect performance like people forget that we all have outside lives we all have external influences that are affecting performance like nobody talks about but why shouldn't it be talked about like why shouldn't it be but of course there's certain things you keep from your manager but I think it was important that you can speak to her if you if you want to and I think we've trusted each other a lot over the years

and I think she's been really tough with me she gets tougher, she gets tougher on me every year honestly she does but I love that because she knows what I can do and I think that's the biggest compliment to me that whenever she's being super hard on me I know it's coming from a good place

and I know it's because she knows I can do more and what I'm capable of more like she sees it, she sees it every day, she sees the analysis, she sees the stats. If she's going at me, it's not because I can't do it, because she knows it was more in me and I love that type of manager

and I've absolutely loved working with. How would you describe her leadership skills and I guess do you think it's inspired you in your way of leading since being captain? Yeah, I think I'm definitely more direct. I think Emma's quite direct to the point. She's a winner and I'm a winner so that's why we get

on so well honestly she'll do whatever it takes to win and I'm the same and I think it's a perfect harmony but I think just saying what needs to be said like if you're a leader people are looking to you you have to have can't always just be sunshine and

roses and great conversations and I feel that everybody thinks there is a perfect harmony at the training ground all of the time but but it's not that's not how it works like if we're family we fight like family as well like don't get me wrong we fight like family but we fight because we all care and we all want to win and we all love each other deep down but yeah of course we we do fight and I think being a leader you have to have tough conversations and I think that's maybe what I've grown so well in

so I have to finish on can you sum up what being a blue means to you no I can't he That's the answer. No, I can't. In the nicest way possible, it's difficult to describe. I feel like it's a family. It is really sort of one club. And I love the feeling of being part of something. And I love the feeling of everybody here being a winner

and fighting for the same goal. And, you know, all the fans are so proud of us, but it is only if we keep winning. So we just keep needing to do them proud. And I think being a blue means, for me, is giving my best every single. go day and until I no longer wear a shirt. Oh, Erin, thank you so much for coming back on the podcast

and for being so honest and so real. It's always such a pleasure. You like make me think, you go really deep and then you make me laugh and then I get choked up. It's, yeah, it's always a pleasure. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thanks again for having me on.

Thank you for listening to We Are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with Skoda, the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. During the course of this series, we'll be speaking in-depth to more of Chelsea's top players and will also be bringing you all the post-match reaction to the biggest games with the players themselves. So remember to subscribe, give us a review and send in your questions to We Are Chelsea at chelcfc.com. See you next time.