We Are Chelsea - Niamh Charles: Bristol City 8-0 reaction... the title race is on!

Episode Date: May 9, 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 Today, Caz De Moraes is joined by Chelsea left-back, Niamh Charles! She gives us her reaction to the incredible 8-0 victory over Bristol City last weekend, which keeps the Blues right in the WSL title race. She also discuses her passion for mental health in football, her favourite moments of the season so far and how special it was giving Fran, Maren and Emma a fitting send off in front of a packed Kingsmeadow crowd. 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.

in the second half when they started chanting like we want six we want seven like it was it was really cool and because they're so close to the pitch it really felt like they were on top of you and yeah they've been amazing all season but that was sort of like a really special moment where kings meadows like our little fortress hello and welcome to we are chelsea the official podcast of chelsea women brought to you an association with scoda the official car partner of chelsea women and proud supporters of women sport. I'm Casdemore's and well, just when you thought the title race could have been over, Chelsea now have everything to play for after a huge 8-0 win against Bristol City at the weekend. So here to chat all about that game and look ahead to the possibility of winning that title is co-captain and Chelsea left back, Neve Charles. Well, Neve, welcome to the podcast. How are you today?

I'm good, thank you. Thank you. having me. How are you? I am very well. Now, we're recording this and last night it was the awards. They looked very fancy and glitzy. How were the awards last night? Yeah, it was actually nice to see everyone get all dressed up and, yeah, to celebrate the teams and the individuals. It was really nice. And also my first one, I've been here four years now and that was my first one. Ah, nice. I also want to talk about, I'm going to get stuck in now, to Bristol City at the weekend,

a huge 8-0 win. Oh my gosh. Talk to me about the lead-in to that game during the game and then the reaction in the changing room afterwards. I think, to be honest, I think we all dealt with it differently. like obviously everyone was playing earlier than us. I chose not to watch any of the game or like follow it at all

so I didn't have any idea what was going on. Other people obviously watched it. I only realised afterwards, okay, that's the results, obviously. We then all rocked up and, I mean, Emma said it. It was like a second chance, but we also knew that we had a lot of work to do. And then, yeah, to start the game and the crowd was amazing

and I think that gave us energy and sort of the occasion that it was and, yeah, we knew we had a lot of work to do. and yeah, thankfully, yeah, it was a really good day and the goals just kept coming and yeah, it was really massively important for us and then or afterwards to sort of obviously celebrate Marion Fran and Emma was really special.

Added to what happened that day, it was a pretty special day. But also, it doesn't count for anything unless we back it up in the next few games. Yes, and so can we go back to Liverpool? Did you just think the title race was all over after that loss? No, I don't think all over. I think the way we are at Chelsea is we will never, ever stop fighting as long as there's a possibility. And I think obviously we would gutted afterwards and very disappointed in ourselves.

Yeah, so if we could go back and do it differently for sure. But I don't think we ever thought it was completely over. We always had hope. And then, yeah, luckily we have been given a second chance. but as I say it could still we still have to take it you know yeah and do you think that because Chelsea are one of those teams

where you're so used to winning you guys win all the time and you know throughout the season I've been speaking to different players and so many have just said we're used to winning we're used to winning we're not used to losing do you think that some of the

the other players who maybe did see the city result before the game and then think it's also Emma's lost home game Do you think it added to the motivation or do you think you felt a bit more pressure? I mean, I would like to think neither.

I would like to think that we have a job to do regardless of everything else that's going on. Pressure or not, I don't know, but maybe that's just my, yeah. But maybe I think for others, the occasion what had happened is a bit of, I mean, it does give you a bit of extra energy and I think the crowd was amazing.

But for sure, even if Emma wasn't leaving, we'd still want to have done that. I think the narrative around it just came together really nicely in like a storytelling way. But the actual reality of the football was still the same, for me at least. What advice did Emma give you guys before the game? She just said, as she's been saying a lot, like, it's rare that you get given a second chance. We have a little bit of one here, make it count. And she was just like, I want to see a Chelsea before. and I want to see the mentality and I want to see the energy.

That's like the biggest thing that she said, like what we can control is I want to see the energy and the intent from the very first whistle. And I think that really hit home with the players. Yeah. I mean, it's funny because when we when we see football teams all over, especially when, I guess especially when there's a new manager maybe and people and you go, ah, the players aren't playing for that manager. I feel like you don't ever hear that with the Chelsea team.

I feel like it's always, God, those. players really play for Emma. Do you think that did kind of help against Bristol? Do you think everyone was also just like, we do have a job, but we're also really want to do this for ourselves and for Emma? I think, I mean, these are probably really boring answers, but honestly, my answer is that regardless of any narrative around it,

I would still really want to win. Like, it's, of course, with Emma, but if Emma was still staying for the next 10 years, I'd still want to win in that much. moment and there is a lot of emotions but yeah it's always been ever since we've been at chelsea it's our little group we play for each other and we play for emma like i think that's a given so of course it was but that's almost feels like it's every game it's it's really like within the team it's you play for each other and you play for the badge and like you have pride

when you pull on that shirt and you you expect a certain Chelsea pride when we play and I do think we haven't done that totally this season and I think that's something the team can really develop and sort of hopefully we can do that more next season but as a whole and as a sort of standpoint it's that's the expectation and that's the norm so no matter what sort of media or noise is going on around it I get the vibe that you are very competitive

on and off the field in fact a little birdie told me today they said let's not talk about training and she was like, you can talk about it with me and she was like, don't talk about it with Neif and I was like, oh, okay, she's like, she's very competitive. Oh no, I'm so, I'm still not over it.

I'm still angry about it. It was Hannah. Yeah, yeah, it was, yeah, I'm very competitive and I think it's a great thing and too much it can be a terrible thing like ruins family games nights, like it can go too far and I'm aware of that but when it happens,

I'm just, yeah. Okay, so Christmas, charades, you get excited with when you win, but you'll go in on the other person if they're on your team and you're losing. Yeah, it's less, I mean, I'm really happy. I like, I really, really want to win, but if I'm losing, it's not good. Like, me and my sister have had a few big family arguments, like, even recently, like, we're both quite old, and it's just, it's just ridiculous, but I just can't help it. That's why sometimes I'm like, my friends get annoyed.

if we're playing because I'm like I really try and take it chilled because if I go really competitive like a really competitive side and I don't want to show them that and then they get really annoyed that I'm not trying and I'm like but I'm either a zero or a hundred person like I'm really trying to stay nice here so what's your worst board game is it like monopoly is just off the table it's not even but it's honestly anything like we've gone to play tennis a few of us girls and they were getting and paddle and they were getting so angry with me they were like you just don't look like you care and you're just swinging and you're laughing

it's like, because if I really care I'll get so angry and it, but they're like, well, just try and I'm like, but that doesn't work. I'm either zero or a hundred. If I try, you will see a gremlin come out if I don't. So it's basically you need to try but you need to be good and if you're not.

Well, it's like I really want to win and I'm just like, sometimes when you play tennis you don't need, like I have to try and tell us and you don't need to win. It's about the enjoyment, but I just don't see it that way. I love that. Going back to Kings Meadow now,

I know it was the last time in front of your fans there this season and it was a sellout crowd. What was the atmosphere like? Yeah, it was incredible. I think, like, I just remember when in the second half, when they started chanting, like, we want six, we want seven. Like, it was really cool.

And because they're so close to the pitch, it really felt like they were on top of you. Yeah, they've been amazing all season, but that was sort of like a really special moment where Kings Meadows, like our little fortress and, yeah, to see. And they all stayed after the game. Like, when we were presenting Emma and Marion and Fran their stuff,

I did look around and it was still packed. So that was really, yeah, it was really nice to see. I mean, we've got to talk about 8-0. It's huge in terms of goal difference to go up against Manchester City. How do you, how did it feel to score the 6th in such a huge range? result. Yeah, it was, well, actually, that goal in isolation, like, I was actually buzzing with it because me and Kat have spoke about it a lot. Like, last game, I think, or the few games. So it's, it's something we've actually spoken about. And before the game, I was like, and she was, like,

obviously, disguising it, but I'm like, pass the ball to me. And she, she kind of, like, nodded her head, like, me, okay, I'm going to pass you the ball, but don't make it so obvious. So, like, when it, because in previous times I've like headed it back across goal but I was like if it comes to me I'm going to try and shoot and then so you know when it's just a moment you speak about and it actually happens so then I think you can tell when I run off celebrating I'm just like yeah it actually work um so yeah that was fun and I haven't scored in a while so that was actually really nice and I want to ask you about cat because I and obviously your celebration because you did celebrate with her after the beautiful assist and she's quite high up in the assist table now

what do you think cat's impact has been on the team this season? I think obviously losing Sam it's a huge loss for the team and I think obviously it wasn't like she came she still had some time to build up but I think she's been massive in terms I think first of all she's a winner so when she's on the pitch she's a competitor

she's a winner and you can never have too many of them and she knows what it takes to and as well she's seen sort of the top level and so she knows the level and that's where she's going to get the team to so it's really nice to have someone like that on your team and yeah I think she's a proper football player like she her technique on the ball her

I mean I give her a hard time about a set piece delivery but it is a massive weapon and you can see in her assists that yeah she's it annoys me giving us so many cops but she is a really really good player and yeah her impact on the team like she comes on and she's just like getting assists like it's just like a normal pass so yeah

she's a really really good player and yeah she's a a top player for us and looking forward to the next few seasons, sort of playing with her and seeing what she can achieve. Looking at the other seven goals in that game, which one was your favourite? They're all my favourite for different reasons, but probably what I remember most is just a guru. Like, I just loved the way she was just, like, she's a magical player and she's so classy because I was right behind a lot of her goals, just seeing them like the, like when she

got the ball, I was like, guru, shoot, gooo, shoot. And she hits the ball so sweetly. Then her reaction, like just obviously we were getting the ball and running back, so she was just running straight past. That's like the adrenaline and the, like, you can't buy those moments. Like, they're so, so special. I think those were the really special moments where, like, we were both so hyped and just, yeah, I'll just always remember a running back

and they're like special moments on a football pitch. I think, like, when you share them with your teammates that you work so hard with and she was just on one and she was, yeah, she was unreal. Oh, nice. How do you describe the feeling of scoring a goal in front of a home crowd? I'm actually pretty bad when I, like, even with my celebration, I always just run back to the halfway line. Like with everyone else, I'm the first one to celebrate.

But when it's me, I think I get so giddy that I just carry on running. Like, I forget to stop and celebrate. So, like, most of the goals I've scored, I literally do just turn around and run back. But, and then it's after that. I'm like, yeah, you do love it. And I think when you watch it and you see like the crowd all sort of cheer in the one moment and hear the noise and like it means so much to them, it's really, really nice. I want to talk about emotions because saying farewell to Fran, Marron and Emma after the game must have been very emotional. Not only for the team, but for all of us fans.

How has it been saying goodbye to three Chelsea legends in the last few weeks of the season? I think it's like I'm really happy that they've got the. sort of time that they have to sort of receive everything they deserve and sort of be have the time for everyone to say how much they appreciate them I think it still feels a bit to me at least anyway I'm a bit like I realize once they've gone when they're not back in preseason you know what I mean because right now we're in this bubble of they're still in every day and nothing's sort of changed even though everything will change so I think it'll probably sink in that's just the way I am once they're not here but yeah I think I'm trying to enjoy

enjoy the last few weeks together. I mean, with all my teammates anyway, it's like you spend so much time with them and then you just leave them for three months. So it's just about enjoying it and spending the quality time you can. But for those three in particular, yeah, we'll really, really miss them.

And I think I've said it before, I'm glad that they're getting what they deserve and hopefully they feel all the love and what they've done for this club individually. Like, they've all had huge, huge impacts and moments that are just their iconic. Now, Neve, I don't know if you know this, but this podcast is brought to you by Scoda, who are the official car partner of Chelsea Women, and they are proud supporters of women's sport.

Now, I know that you own a Skoda, but you and your family are big Skoda fans. That's true, right? Yeah, I own, yeah, we are a Skoda garage at home. So obviously, I drive a very nice one at the moment, but I've kept my other one as well. Can't part with it. and at home we have multiple scodas and my first car, it's just a scoda family like my first car was a scoda

and it stayed in a family that'll probably be my brother's car and my dad got me onto it and yeah, stayed loyal ever since and the car I drive now I absolutely love and yeah, every day I just love getting into it. What car are you? Are you in an eniac now? I'm in an eniac coupe at the moment

and yeah, it's a dream. I absolutely love it and all the little gadgets and whatnot and the fact that it's scoda makes it even better and yeah just it is a dream car partnership for me so I was very very happy about it that's brilliant well I've also heard that the um the scoda Kodiak is an all new seven-seater so if you were to give lifts to your other teammates that's the one that you can but maybe you don't fancy giving people lifts and sticking with the one that you've got well I actually was toy in between that one as well and I

like I don't think I need like there's literally me in the car majority of the time like I don't have that many friends like let's I don't think I need that so I went for the slightly smaller one but I'm thinking future dogs like seven seater I had seven seats when I was growing up so yeah they do it all okay well you I will be your friend to try out this new scoda but I'm just one person so I can fit in whichever one you've got your old one or your new one um and is it true that no one is allowed to control the tunes in your car when you're driving? No, I'm actually, I don't mind you being the DJ,

but if you start to tell me about anything you're driving, about driving, I'm just like, excuse me, I'm the one that's driving. So you can be DJ and you can be a good DJ, but if you start trying to be like, oh, oh, you should go that way, it's like, I'm aware, I'm the driver. Okay, she's competitive and likes to be in control of the steering wheel. Yeah, but you be a good DJ. That's your responsibility.

Okay, fairs, fairs, that's a good deal. For those listening, if you're interested in learning more about SCADA, search the SCODA range online now. You touched earlier on the fact that as a Chelsea team, you guys never give up, and even after Liverpool, you were still fighting and you didn't think that it was all over. How are you guys feeling ahead of the next game against Topham? Almost business as usual, like we know what we need to do.

It's definitely, I think we're very aware that it, could, yes, it's hope, but we actually have to go out there and do it and not to get too sort of carried away with everything. It's about controlling what we can control and making sure that we do everything now. We've got a bit longer than we usually have for a game, but making sure we're actually really using that so that when we turn up to the game, we're as completely ready as we can be. I remember talking to Ben Chilwell, actually, about the highs and lows of football and when I mean it's just natural in football isn't it and particularly in this season there's been a lot of highs and lows for you guys and how as footballers if you let the waves take you then it

can be very up and down and you've opened up about your mental health before how important is it to seek help and how do you deal with riding the waves do you try and maintain a kind of level of balance so that you're not swept up and down so often yeah i think it's it's not like something that one day you're like oh sweet i'm fixed now like oh now i know how to deal with it like it's a constant sort of i think i've definitely got better at dealing with it but it'll never be like oh not an issue it's it's it's not like yeah you just fix it's it's like a constant thing of the last few weeks it's i i definitely dealt better with it that then I would have done previously

because I think I've worked really hard on it and I've speak to the people around me that sort of help me. Yeah. But I think it's not true to say, oh, I just know how to deal with it. And obviously, I'm a lot better. But I think in five years' time,

hopefully I'll be even better at it. It's like a constant journey and being aware that that's just something I'm really passionate about that it's like an everyday thing, that it's sort of, it's not just that, or sweet you're done. It's sort of you have to engage in that the same way we engage with our physical

with our technical every single day. It's about engaging with and knowing we can always be better with that, knowing that we can always be better with our mental health and giving it the time that it needs because like you've seen in the past few weeks in the games, the highs and the lows,

a lot of it is a mental toll and the way we were on Sunday, we were just on it in the flow and that's a massive part of that is mentally. And I think, so it's not lost on me how big of a difference it can make to be honest and yeah

just I like I like talking about it because I think everyone sort of I just want to be open about it yeah and I think not it's only in the last few years maybe that people have talked about it more especially in the men's game as well because it's needed for

for both men and women but notoriously men don't always talk but I think speaking to so many athletes, sometimes I feel like it's an athlete thing. And because you're expected, there's another game coming. You're expected to be on form physically. But if your mind isn't, you can't,

it needs to catch up physically. You can't, your physical can't be at a certain level when your mind isn't. Yeah. And I think even though you say that about the male, I don't want it to be like, oh, I just speak to someone because I also was the worst person for speaking to someone. so I think it helps like if someone says

because when someone says I'll just speak to someone it sounds really easy but it's not like I was actually really bad at doing that and I've had to really develop that and also it's not just about when you're like struggling it's like even when you're as high as high can be that's still part of your mental health as well so it's not yeah I just don't want it to be like oh when you're struggling then you sort of reach out it's just sort of a

just sort of it's just there and it's every day whether it's good whether it's bad it's just having an awareness and giving it the time and the space that it needs but yeah as athletes I think we're not robots even though sometimes it'd be really nice if we were that's what makes high performance so difficult is we're not robots and yeah that's why you have to take care of your mental health just as much as your physical health because obviously it's a physical game but a lot of it is played in the mind as well yeah I love that And what you touched on reminded me of a saying that someone told me, it was you work on your mental health, even on the good days, because it will be there for you on the bad days. Yeah.

And I feel like that's the message that you're saying. Yeah. We touched on Fran, Maron and Emma. What do you think their impact has been on the club? I mean, I feel like that's not a short answer by any stretch. I think I've had the outside perspective and the inside. now. So when I was playing for Liverpool and sort of in the earlier times and now hearing them speak

about when they first started at Staines and sort of from then to now, the momentum they've created and sort of the monster that they've created. And I think those are three hugely key players and sort of Emma fighting for on the pitch and also off the pitch in terms of advocating for the players, advocating for females in the game, how she's managed to. to sort of develop so many things, not just on the pitch. She's used it to sort of, as a platform off the pitch as well. And then Marin and Fran, like hugely experienced top, top class players.

I think they've been integral with a lot of other players and sort of, they came to the club and they've made it what it is. It's not just they came to something that is what it is now. They were in the whole journey and I think that's something to be massively proud of. It's not just like, yeah, you were there from the very, very beginning. created this sort of what it is now and I have massive respect for all three of them for what they've achieved and how they've done it and how they carry themselves. We've talked about how, you know, football and in particular this season has had its ups

and downs, but how do you reflect on your personal journey this season? I mean, I haven't done that too much yet just because I still feel very much in it in the moment and we've still got a big job to do. but I think I have really enjoyed this season and I feel that I've developed and played more consistently as in actually played but also been more consistent in when I have played and there's still for sure so many things that I can improve and like I'm looking forward to doing that

but I've really enjoyed this season building connections with players and sort of the times when I've taken on a bit more of a leadership role I've enjoyed that and I wish it could have gone different at times but yeah I really love playing for this team and with the girls that we've got it's yeah really special so you've been co-captaining with Erin and that must have been very special

what's it like leading the team out yeah it's really it's really special and I think again I'm just in the in the zone of like next game next game next game that I don't actually think and maybe I should more like oh this is pretty special and it is an honour and yeah I really enjoyed that responsibility

but even I would like to think it kind of gave me an insight of one game I'd wear it one game I wouldn't and it was a real insight of like well I'd like to think I don't change too much between the two and with Erin as well that was it was a nice insight to be like yeah visually one of us is wearing it one of us isn't but the responsibility is still very much there

no matter what the game is but I really enjoyed that sort of experience for sure how different are yours and Erin's characters because we've had Erin on quite a few times and I'm just imagining being captained by Erin and now I'm trying to imagine being captained by you I mean I guess I would like to ask other people that question and see what they'd say

because I don't really know what they say but I guess I do think it's nice that I'd say we were both really passionate and we're both competitive and winners and like obviously I'm 21 she's 22 so we end up sitting next to each other in the change room and there's like, we do our own things and then we come together and have like a little,

not like a check-in, but make sure we're on the same page about messages we want to get across. And I think maybe the way, I think maybe our character off the pitch is different, but I'd like to think on the pitch we're both sort of fight for the badge and, yeah, have that passion.

But be interested to see what other people said about that. They'd probably give a better answer than what I've just given. Well, I might ask a few other people, actually. Did you realise you'd be captaining at such a young age? No, and I'd never even thought about it, to be honest. I just spoke to someone else about when Emma told me I'd be captain the first time and I looked around, I was like, you're joking.

Like, I was seriously, like, for a while, like, nah, you're having me on here. Just because it was completely unexpected. But, yeah, a huge honour that, yeah, she did that. and I've been able to have that experience and I've not thought about it at all to be honest but yeah pretty special and yeah I really really enjoyed it well talking about Emma what has been the most valuable thing that she's taught to you over your time at Chelsea

to be honest I've said like when people ask me that I say quite I say like we've been on a journey like she's done this so many times with like younger players and sort of molding them obviously I've changed positions So there has been a lot. It's not just been a, there's been ups and downs, challenging points. But I also think she's very good at seeing the human side of people. And yeah, so she really helped me sort of develop as a person. That's why like when I sit here now and I'm able to talk about her,

I feel like a lot more put together kind of person. Like I was younger before and now I can, I know myself better. I know myself as a player better. And I think she's someone that encouraged me to do that. And she didn't do it for me for sure. but she sort of pointed me in the right direction. How did Emma react yesterday when her mural was unveiled? And did you guys know that that was going to...

I mean, I didn't know. I don't know whether other people knew, but I didn't know. And I think, yeah, I saw her after the awards, and I think she was... It's so nice that she got something that was a surprise for her, and it is a forever thing and completely justified and, like, really special. I think she knows how big that is for the clause, like to be there and yeah it's it's a fitting sort of send off and yeah i think also for a family

as well to sort of see her obviously we all know what she's achieved but to actually have something to see and yeah it was really special so i think she was yeah really happy with it i like that one of the first things she said is my mum will love this yeah yeah um we've got some listener questions because we ask the listeners to send in their questions via email And Caitlin is asking, if you can describe this season in one word, what would it be? Tumultuous. Is that a word? Yeah, no, it is a word. Isabel is asking, what has been your most memorable game?

I think Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, I think I just loved that game and the feeling I had afterwards when we walked around the pitch. I just loved it. Yeah, nice. Ava asks if you've managed to find yourself. on the WSL stickers yet. Yeah, I have. Even though it is really, like, I think I found myself like once. And obviously I've seen a few people that have me, but I open so many sticker packs,

I never come across myself. Right. Are you guys listening? We need more need more need. Maybe it's, maybe it's just being going to the same person. You know, I remember when I was little, I'd always be like, I've got the same person. Yeah, there's one person who's got about 10 neaves.

Yeah, they're sick of the sight of me, yeah. Yeah. And apparently, tumultuous means excited, confused, or disorderly. So maybe tumultuous is the perfect word. Yeah. Bit disorderly, bit excited, a bit confused at times. Yeah, it could have up and down. So it could have gone a lot.

It could have gone better. But it will be next year. It will be. Neve, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. We have run out of time. but I would love to have you back on in the future. Thank you. It's been a pleasure. I'll gladly come back. Yay.

Thank you very much. Thank you for listening to We Are Chelsea. The official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you an association with Skoda, the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. Subscribe to the feed and give us a review. There will also be video content from the show across all of Chelsea's social media channels. and don't forget to email us your questions at we are Chelsea at ChelseaFCFC.com. See you next time.