We Are Chelsea - We Are Chelsea LIVE! With Katie Chapman

Episode Date: November 5, 2025

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 Em Wallbank brings you our first live show of the season with a very special guest - former Chelsea captain, Katie Chapman. We take a trip down memory lane into Katie’s playing career, and she fills us in on what she’s been up to post-football. What is on Katie’s training playlist? Which player would make the best traitor? Who’s better - Busted or McFly?To watch the full episode on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/@chelseafcwomen/videosSend us your questions and Whistleblower dilemmas to [e-mail] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, Stamford Bridge. How are you all doing? Are you all good? Fantastic. Welcome to We Are Chelsea Live? It's great to have you all here ahead of today's big game. Are we excited? I'm so excited.

It's actually my first game day at Stamford Bridge and I'm thrilled to be here. So thank you so much for joining us. Before we get started, a quick shout-out. This podcast is brought to you. in association with Skoda, the official car partner for Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. A big thank you to Skoda

for their support in making today's live episode and the podcast itself. Possible. Now, our guest today needs very little introduction. A true Chelsea legend, she captained the Blues

to our very first FA Cup and WSL title and she led the team in our first ever Women's Champion League outing and won an incredible 10 FA Cups across her career. Please give a huge welcome

to Katie Chapman. Morning Katie, welcome back. Good morning. How does it feel to be here at the bridge on a derby day? I love being at the bridge. I love coming here. I love seeing the fans.

I just like seeing the way the women's games progress. And it's such an exciting derby as well. It's the first one against the London City Lionesses. You know what it's going to be really interesting, I think, obviously because they're a new team, it's a built team,

so I'm interested to see you know, money can't buy a team because I've been in teams where I've had to build and it's taken years to sort of get to a certain place. I'm interested to see what they're like today. How's your morning been? Do you get the same buzz that you used to when you play for Chelsea coming back to the bridge?

I think you get the same buzz. Not the same as obviously you're going to be out there and on the pitch. But it's nice to feel the buzz around the stadium and obviously being at Stanford Bridge and playing the games here now is unbelievable. Did you used to have any pre-game rituals or superstitions? Not really.

I think because I had children, my life was just chaos. So I think they're getting ready for games. games and stuff like that was sort of getting the kids ready, making sure they had everything and my life's chaos. So I think that was my routine. I think when I didn't have chaos and everything was quite quiet and it was calm, I think that's when I really struggled. So I think I enjoyed the chaos of my life and just not actually thinking about the games, just having that making sure everyone else is ready for us to get to the game. And then in the, yeah, in the change room, just getting myself ready and ready to play. It's almost like you've got that

much going on. You haven't actually got time to get nervous about the game. And I think that's probably a good thing for me because I think I am sometimes an overthinker. So I think for me, the chaos and that, I love it probably because of that reason. I love that. You had such an incredible career here and we touched on some of it in your intro, but looking back what are some of your favourite memories of being at Chelsea. I think as you spoke about the first FFA Cup, obviously being played at Wembley as well, I'm being that captain actually getting my hands on that trophy because that's all I wanted before the game was like, please let me be the one going up in them steps to pick that trophy up. I think that's really memorable. I think just being here

and seeing the progression of Chelsea women, really. I think, you know, we started where we were training twice a week with the AstroTurf and they'd turn the lights off at 10 o'clock to having pat lunches to go home with after training that they've had like a roll, an apple and a drink. To us, you know, having our own facility, our own pitches to having kit washed. You know, we used to have to take our own care. I've spoken about any before when she used to take hers home

and put white washing with black stuff. They used to come back grey and as a mother, I was like, what the hell are you doing? But yeah, just seeing the progression, I think, at Chelsea has been amazing. It is fantastic and seeing the growth in women's sport in general. You've been such an instrumental part in that, so it must be really nice to watch your legacy grow into what it's becoming. And it's such an exciting time to be in women's sport, isn't it?

We're doing really well. I mean, we've just seen it with the women's rugby team. We're having amazing successes in women's football. But I'd love to chat to you about dressing romantics and behind the scenes that people don't really see. Is there any memorable moments or pranks that still sort of make you smile? Not really. There'd always be some bits around Halloween, you know, with masks and stuff about people jumping out.

Not really. Everyone had their own sort of thing. Me as a captain, obviously in the change room, I knew it was important to leave people to their own things, especially in the change rooms and stuff like that, to let them prepare and get ready for the game in their own way. Some would have the music blaring and dance. Some would have their headphones on and want to sit quietly. You know, people do all sorts of things, weird and wonderful things.

But it got them ready for the game. It's really interesting hearing everybody else's different rituals because it is such a personalised thing. We can't forget that you came here from a pretty incredible run at Arsenal as well. I've got to ask, was that a controversial move at the time? Not really. In the women's game, I think the women's game is quite different in terms of that.

And I think for me, I had a great time at Arsenal. I won many, many trophies. And I think for me, it was about myself and my self-development. I wanted a different challenge. So the next challenge was, obviously, Chelsea were the up-and-coming team. and I want it to be part of that. So we have actually got a fan question related to this. Give us a wave if it is you.

Someone's asked, what was the response like from Arsenal fans when you first went to play for Chelsea? It's actually been okay. I mean, even going back to Arsenal, when I was at Chelsea, and they were all really, she's one of our own, they used to sing. So it was actually quite nice because I'd always left somewhere in a nicer place

and I tried to do that. You know, I did my best when I was there and it was time to move on. And I think people were happy for me in that regard. In the women's game, we seemed to be nicer. I think in general, you know, when teams mix, fans mix, it seems to be a nicer environment for everyone. And I think that's the same, you know,

because if you want a player to keep pushing forward and progressing, of course you don't want to lose that player, but if their mindset is that they want to go and get better and they want to progress and they want to be part of something new, I think they should be, you know, pushed and being able to do that. That's such a lovely environment to be in and to just be as supportive. One of the big things for you is that you handed the captain's armband

pretty much straight away when you joined. What did that mean to you personally? I think for me at Arsenal I had the captain's armband as well on and off at a different sort of level we were semi-pro so then coming to Chelsea and being professional and I didn't actually accept it straight away I was like am I really ready for it do I really want to do it so it took me a little bit of time to sort of think is this something I want and then I was like you know what if I've come here to push myself further then they need to get further out my comfort zone I need to take the armband and lead this team so it wasn't any easy decision but you know I was honoured to do it yeah and you spent a lot of time training with the girls at Arsenal, with the girls at Chelsea. How did you earn the respect of the Chelsea squad, like, as quickly as you did? I think I'm one with not many words. I don't, I didn't, before I didn't talk a lot. I do now.

Everyone keeps asking me to talk. But I think I led by example, and that was the way I sort of done it. I led on the pitch and in training, made sure the standards were high. Always treated people's individuals. Everyone was different. Everyone needed something different. And it's funny because Gemma Davidson, obviously, who still works at the club. she always says to me all the time you were great for me

like you knew how to get the best out of me and I think that's what I prioritise myself on and you are individual and you do need different things some need to kick up the ass some need an arm random and some need different like constructive criticism and I thought you know I got to know them individually and I learnt that and that's what made me I think

pretty successful while you were captain you played under Emma Hayes and you played under Emma Hayes at a few teams as well how did you and Emma work together and what's the biggest thing that you learn from her during your time at Chelsea I mean, she's an unbelievable coach, her manager tactically. She's, yeah, one of the best.

She was hard on me. And sometimes, you know, players wanted to send me like land to the slaughter to ask questions and I was like, absolutely not. If you want to ask that question, you go yourself. Because I know if I go in there, it's going to be an absolute no. And I'm not going to put myself. Oh, you've become the older sibling. Like, send the older sibling first.

They get the brunt of it. Absolutely not. Any other question that I think, yeah, warrant, you know, might get a maybe. I'll go. But no, sometimes it was. but we built that relationship obviously as you say over many years at different clubs and I think there was a mutual respect

between us and listen we were both absolute winners and you know being at Chelsea that's what we wanted for this club yeah it's the partnership between you two is absolutely legendary and it must be fantastic to look back on what was your favourite aspects of working with Emma I think how much she sort of taught me

I think she's really good at the other side of the game not just the tactical side and on the pitch she's really good people's person and I think she dealt with players and squads really, really well when everyone felt valued within the team. And I think that's probably her biggest strength. Fantastic, we're gonna chat life after football because as amazing as all your football achievements are,

you've got a fantastic career in your own rights. Since retiring, life's obviously changed. You've mentioned being a working mum. Tell us a bit about what you're up to nowadays. Well, I went into being a personal training, if I'm pre and post-nator was the first thing. That was sort of through COVID. I was like, right, what am I gonna do next?

And it took a little while for me to get to what I was going to do next because I was always looking for the feeling that football gave me and that adrenaline rush and I could never ever find it. So I had to teach myself that I'm never going to get it, what is it that I need to do? And I found that doing things for reward and seeing that I'm helping in some sort of way made me feel really, really good. Obviously having free children myself going through that stage, I was at Fulham when I had my first and they were really, really good.

I had a doctor and a physio that took me through a program and they taught me everything about training during pregnancy, what to be aware of and all the dangers and the risks and stuff like that. And the other two, I did myself. So I was able to get myself back through pregnancy by training and then back onto the grass by myself. So for me, I was like, you know what, actually it's really hard and there's not that much support out there. So for me, I wanted to give women that support because it is tough. It is tough after having a child and no sleep once you've had the child and then get yourself back to you again is really really difficult and I just wanted to prove I think to myself and to everyone else that actually you can have both yeah being a mum it's not

something that we've seen a huge amount of in football what is that like having to switch from like mum mode to football mode and especially you don't think about the the fitness aspects and stuff because it's just not something that we've seen quite a lot really what was that like for you I loved being able to switch between the two because I think the environment is so intense and being in football it can engulf you completely so the fact that I could go and put everything into my training and then I could go home

and I could just be mum and just do something else like for me that was I think it kept my career where it was and it kept me going and it kept the hunger obviously for me to play football do your boys play football they all play that's where my mum's taxi I am now on the weekends and speaking of your boys playing football

you've recently started your own podcast which has got a really heavy pivot onto grassroots. What inspired that and what is that all about? Obviously, being a parent and being on the other side and being on the sideline and just listening, I think, to other parents and things that go on around grassroots football. I think there's so many pressures anyway today

on young kids anyway with social media and all that side of it. And then you hear sort of parents on the sideline putting pressure on the kids as well. So I think it's just educating parents and children about everything, about what scouts are looking for, about nutrition. We've just done one actually on mistakes, embracing mistakes.

You know, like, because we all see mistakes as being a failure, and they're not. We actually learn the most from making mistakes. So I think it's teaching the kids and the parents that it's okay for your child to make mistakes. As long as they've got the right intention of what they're doing on the pitch, it's okay to make mistakes. And I think those things are important. And talking about, you know, the growth spurt of children. They develop and grow at such a rapid speed. Like, you know, my 17-year-old has just had a stress fracture in his spine

because his development was so quick and his body couldn't cope with a lot. loads of training. So we ended up with stress fracture. So it's just talking about those things and just educating parents and children that, you know, these things are okay. They're just blips in the road. It doesn't mean that if you're not training for a month, you're not going to be good enough. They're just little blips and it's never a straightforward road. For anybody listening that might want to know where to find your podcast and what your podcast is called, do you want to give it a shout out? It's called what's your goal? So basically, just, you know, everyone don't want to be a pro

either. No one goes into sport always to be a pro. Some do. And sometimes. Some just want to play because they love it and be sociable. But, I mean, you can find it anywhere. Anywhere, you can find your podcast, guys. Go and check it out. What's your goal? Just, yeah, just look it up. And just if you're interested and if your kids are interested,

I mean, we've had a lot of good feedback from it. So have you interested, yeah, have a look. And going back to you being a personal trainer, pre-hand personal natal, what's the training for that like and how long did it take to qualify? I did it slowly, obviously because of COVID and stuff like that. I sort of took my time of it because there was no rustic. to go anywhere. So it kept my brain working actually through that period because I was in the park constantly with the kids. I think football tennis and those sort of tennis in general,

I'd add enough of. So focusing on something different was actually quite nice. It took a while, but I think because I knew quite a lot of it, because I'd been educated before and I'd done it personally, so I know what it feels like. I think the personal side of it and knowing what to be aware of and just saying that, you know, it's okay to train. As long as you're sensible, listen to your own body. We're all personal. When we go through pregnancy, we all like have different. you know things that we experience during that but I think it's important that exercises is amazing through pregnancy and it's amazing to keep yourself fit and stuff like that and my fitness obviously went up because I trained your oxygen

intake goes up anyway by carrying oxygen around your body by training on top of that it adds like an extra 50% so yeah my fitness coming back especially after my second child I was like wow what the hell is going on here I was absolutely flying that's actually really fascinating yeah Did being a mum in football in form you making that transition? And was that something that you were actively willing to share with your clients? Yeah. And I think coming from a personal point of view as well, you know,

sometimes you can't value that experience. And I did it personally and I've experienced what it feels like. So any questions they sort of have, I can go, yeah, I felt that. Or yes, I've been through that or I know. And sometimes you want to hear those things because, you know, you can train in something and not have that experience. And then you're like, well, how can you, you know, I say to people,

you haven't got kids how can you tell me what that should feel like or how that should be so sometimes that's valuable yeah speaking from experience is so valuable i also read that you trained as a beautician whilst playing is that something you still do that was a long time ago that was something i thought i wanted to do i think i've ended up just using that personally to be quite honestly i like to tint in my eyebrows and stuff like that that's just it ended up a personal thing i never ever pursued that now's i was useless that because i kept shaking so that that didn't last very long. And you're still involved with Chelsea

as an ambassador. What does that role look like and was it important for you to stay connected to the club? Do you know what? I love Chelsea Football Club. I loved every minute being here. So the fact that I've got the opportunity to be the ambassador and still be within the club. I love all the foundation stuff. I get to go into schools

and inspire young girls and boys. A lot of commercial bits and partners. Yeah, I love. I love seeing the continued progression of the club and being part of that. I think, yeah, it puts a smile on my face. You've also played in a few of the legend games for Chelsea. Tell us about that experience.

So much fun. I say, do you know what? People go to me, why the hell are you still playing football? And all I keep saying to people is I love playing football. Like, I just love it. I've loved my career. And any opportunity now I get to put my boots on, absolutely. And obviously, the opportunity to come back here as well.

I played Anfield in the first leg and then to come back here and play the home leg, although we didn't win, which, you know, come on, guys. But the whole experience, I think, you know, what it means and what it's raising money for is really, really important. Obviously, the foundation and the Players Trust Fund, you know, they do really great work that people don't really realise because you don't see a lot of it. But that money that we raise for those sorts of things goes to really important places. That's really fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing that. You're obviously still a big part of Chelsea. So what sort of feelings, opinions have you got on the current Chelsea team?

they've been women's Super League champions six times in a row now what do you think makes this squad so dominant? Culture, I think it's a winning culture I think, you know, they're fed through the whole club you walk around Stamford Bridge

and you see the pictures on the wall is winning, winning, winning they've got an unbelievable squad of players I mean, Sonia's obviously added more to that, I don't know how she manages all of those because that must be really, really difficult having a big squad like that and so many international players

that are sitting on the bench I'd be a nightmare I'd be an absolute nightmare so credit to her for managing that they are just serial winners you've got Millie in there as the leader as well and the captain

absolute winner yeah I mean what a squad Is there anybody that stands out to you right now or any players that you're particularly excited by Ellie Carpenter I liked when she played at Leon

she was one of my favourites there I was like oh my God she gets involved she's always I don't think she stops running Alyssa Thompson who's just been added I mean, she looks like a really bright spark at the minute. Still waiting to see Germa as well. She's one that I want to see on the pitch. I'd love to watch her play because she's so composed, so relaxed on the ball.

So I'm excited to see her. And listen, all the, you know, you've got your errands, you've got your millies that have been there forever. And they're always the heart of Chelsea. Elisa and Naomi, we had on the podcast a little while back, they are so fun as a team as well. And you can so tell there's a lovely level of camaraderie between the girls. What do you think of Sonia's influence on the squad? I think she's brought something different to the team, hasn't she?

I think, you know, lucky her she was left with a really good squad of players anyway and then being able to add to that more quality and more international players. I've never actually worked on Sonia. I've obviously played against them and played international games. But I think she's just being something else. She's come from a winning culture. So what a person to bring into the club who's going to continue to take the club forward. Yeah, we've talked about obviously this winning culture.

Have you noticed any other differences in general squad culture compared to when you were playing? I haven't been in and around the environment so I haven't been in that end of it so I don't know how that all sort of goes. I feel a little bit awkward now anyway because you know when things change

and you go back into something it's completely different so it feels a little bit uncomfortable anyway but listen I'm sure she's still driving that culture and that winning standard hence you know on the pitch they're getting results. Yeah. Is there any players who remind you of yourself

or your former team mates from watching games? Millie's always been the one I think I've spoke about it every time when they brought it to the club I was like oh my god like she was like a clone she played just like me she's an all or nothing player

she's an absolute winner and she's got a heart of gold and I was just like oh my god you just reminded and I took her under my wing and I was like oh my god I'm happy to sort of leave the club with you in here

because it was like another one of me and she has she drove the club on that's really cool for you and we call each other sisters funny enough actually when we message each other, right, or sister, like happy birthday sister or whatever. So it's really funny because, yeah, we're football sisters. The camaraderie really continues from like generation to generation of the team.

Oh, absolutely. If she called me today, I'd, yeah, do anything for her in a heartbeat. Is there any advice that you'd give to the current team or squad? Probably to score more goals. I think at the minute we're leaving teams in it a little bit too long. I think, you know, get the job done and finish them off. I think I would say to them because, you know, why games are 1-0, anything can happen. And I think you see in the league now that the standard has risen, absolutely, you know, the transfer window. How many players were bought and sold in that, you know, it's never been, it's never happened. And I think the gaps are getting tighter and tighter.

So I think, yeah, finish teams off. This podcast is brought to you by Scudder, the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporter of women's sport. It's football season, it's time for afterwork training, muddy boots and early morning weekend games. Whether you play five aside after work, cheer the kids on from. the sidelines on a Saturday morning or gather with your mates to watch the big leagues every weekend Skoda's the perfect companion

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to jump in and see for yourself we're going to move on to some fan questions so we're going to see what you lovely lot have been submitting I hope you've been keeping it fun so it's obviously Derby Day and today's match is a new London Derby, with the London City Lionesses

having been newly promoted to the WSL. Are you excited to see Chelsea take on a new local rival? I am excited for that. I'm excited for this team. I think when you look at them two teams, they're stacked with international players. So I think it's going to be really, really interesting. Because I was obviously looking at their squad last night,

London City Linusies, and they've got a real mix of experience, like they've got players in their 30s and above that bring that experience, and then they've got players at the lower end. So it's going to be really, really interesting. and all these players have been in different clubs and played internationally. So I think it's going to be interesting today. The lionesses, they're obviously an independent club

and Chelsea have benefited from significant investment. What's it like for you to see the new level of support for the game? I'm interested to see how that's going to work. You know, we've been self-sustainable. And that's where, listen, the women's game needs to get. We need to sustain ourselves. So it'd be interesting to see that develop over time and whether other clubs can follow in that footsteps

because if we can sustain ourselves, I mean, we're sponsorship and stuff and the money that's been invested now into the women's game. Hopefully, that's where we get to. Was there a point where you realise the women's game was really starting to get the recognition that it deserved? After I retired. I think, yeah, I think since I've retired, funny enough, I've seen the growth, obviously, in the game. Listen, the standards has absolutely gone up. Every club now is professional.

We're attracting so many international players now into the league, which is obviously raising the standard. and changing certain things. There's different mentalities. I've played with different cultures, you know, Norwegians and Icelandics, and I love the Scandinavians. I do the Swedish, because they've got a real winning mentality,

but they love attention to detail, so it's really nice to learn different things from different cultures as well. It's fascinating to see the growth, and it's such an exciting age of women's sport. But this is a really good question who ever submitted this one. I love this.

Do you remember the first time you saw someone wearing a shirt with your name on? That must be so exciting. That must be so cool. I don't think I ever see anyone with my name on it, to be quite honest. I don't think they were actually available. They weren't available when I was playing. My kids were the first ones because I had it done.

But no, I don't think I see anyone walking around my shirt because I'd retired by then. You know, like once they're all sort of come in and they started to sell them in the shops and stuff like that actually started to be a thing. I never, unless I gave someone my shirt and they'd obviously be wearing it. But no, but you know what it's great now walking around. I think even walking around Stanford Bridge, you know, like you see in the shops, the names on the back of the shirt,

you see people walking with the names and you see all the pictures around the stadium like that's how it should be because Chelsea Football Club is Chelsea Football Club are relevant of men, women, academy, whatever it is, girls, boys. Yeah, football's football. Yeah.

And that's the way it should be. Are there any memories from your early WSL days that make you appreciate how far it's come? I think probably, I mean, going back back when I played in my first FA Cup at 14, I think, and I think there was one man in his dog there. No, I think it was about 3,000 people. So seeing the development and the growth, you know, even in the lead games now, they're the games that we didn't have many people coming to.

I think when you look at, you know, either Stamperbridge or Kings Meadow now and, you know, we're filling that up, especially Kings Meadow, we're filling up. It will continue to keep growing. Talking of the differences in people referring to men and women's football differently, do you have any advice on how to respond when someone criticises women's football and compares it to the men's game? Don't compare it. I think that's the key, isn't it? There's no comparison. We are men and women. We're completely different.

Our makeup's completely different. The way we play is completely different. And I think just treat us football. Don't treat it as men and women. Don't look at that part of it. Just treat us football. What do you think could be done in women's spot to help change that attitude?

I think just keep progressing. I think the way it's going, keep having the conversations. I mean, I get on, you know, trains and tubes now, and I see little boys and men talking about the women's game, and they're not talking about it as, oh, it's crap, or it's, you know, I don't like watching that. They talk about it differently in terms of,

They might say it's not as quick and we're not as physical as the men but there's a different side to it which is more tactical so it's nice to hear those conversations and I think it is changing and listen there's always going to be people out there that's not going to like it

and if you don't like it don't watch it, simple. There you go, football's football you've heard it straight from Katie Chapman is there a player in the current squad that you'd have loved to have played with? I think there's a hard one I think there's many in there

when you look at the squad I mean there's unbelievable players in there unbelievable talent and I think I would have been grateful to be on the pitch with any of them to be quite honest. Looking at the team now, it must be because it's such a different team to when it started a few years ago. What team did you find the hardest to play against when you played? We were always, Man City was the team when we were playing. It was funny because we used to always get those in every semi-final in FA Cup, like constantly. But thank God we used to beat them. We used to make the final.

But they used to be one of the teams that, yeah, were definitely one of our boge teams. What was your favourite trophy to lift? Oh, obviously lifting the trophy at the home of English football at Wembley. The FA Cup there as the captain was a pretty memorable moment. That is pretty memorable. You've lifted a trophy at Wembley. I lifted my Year 9 Science won.

You know, some of us are just overachievers. Have you got any funny Emma Hayes stories? not really she'd always sort of to engage people in a meeting she'd always start with something really random that you were like sitting there going what the hell are you talking about or it might be something in the news or a bit of politics that's gone

and we're all sitting there going what the hell but it worked because we were all sitting there thinking she had us engaged instantly and that she'd start meetings in that way so I think for me that's one of the things that actually stand out listen she's serious but she can always have the funny side to it as well and you know put an arm round people and

as I said you'd kick people at the back side if they needed and I usually got to kick up the backside. Now, we've got some really random questions now, because some of you apparently have just sent the first thing that came to mind. And I'm here for it, honestly. Do you like matcha? And if so, what's your favourite flavour? I don't actually drink any coffee.

No, neither do I. We've got so much in common. Yeah, I don't drink coffee at all, unfortunately. Lots of tea, but no coffee. Oh, this is a great one. Would you go on the traitors? Oh, absolutely. I'm just watching it at the minute.

I'm so hooked. I think they're so stupid, though. What the hell is going on? I would be so soul destroyed if I come out there in the situation they're in right now. And I hadn't known who was a traitor? I'd think, what the hell? I wouldn't trust anybody. I'd come out.

I'd be a nervous wreck. Who do you think would be the best and worst player on the traitor out of other footballers that you know? I think I'd be really bad to be a terrible liar. I'd be really, really, I'd be guilty straight away. Someone asked me a question, are you a traitor? I'd be like, yeah, I am. I can't lie anymore who would be good or bad

like dream football traitors edition who's the line up Emma would actually probably be really good on it because she's got that face you know like sometimes you don't know how to read her you don't know oh my god am I in trouble now or have I done okay

I've asked the right question I think she'd probably be really good on it Denise her assistant would be actually really funny to go on it I think she'd have us cracking up who would be terrible at it I think G would have been she would have been

hilarious but she would have been so bad so bad so bad so that would have been really funny actually would you rather have been a traitor or a faithful i think traitor probably would have been more fun wouldn't it really get into the hard questions there'd be more tactics i think more tactics in being a traitor wouldn't you have you'd have to really really think about yeah what you're doing and what you're saying what would you get a game plan be i haven't got a clue you'd say to remain as normal tactics let's see how catch i'm in a life as possible you'd want to stay but yeah i don't know I think I might be quite good at it because obviously when I've done interviews as a captain

and the game's been really, really bad. You know, you have to reel back and you go, I can't say that. I have to sort of... So I think I'd be good at that side of it somewhat. But I am a terrible liar. So I don't really know what my tech... I don't think they'd actually work in there

because I think you'd have to figure it out as you went along. Oh, we're really getting to some hard-hitting journalism here. Who'd you like more busted or McFly? I don't really know I can't say I really listen to Eva I'll probably say busted maybe I don't know

I don't know ask my kids I'm which team member of the team would you have trusted most to fly the team playing to an away match who said that that's a really funny question what's your name Millie shout out Millie

well done Millie Do you know I think I would have trusted when we played with Magda Erickson because when she played she had to know every detail. She was one of them that would ask a question after question. We're like, he's done now.

Like, please, it's enough. So she'd need to know every detail. So I think she'd know it down to the tea. So I think she'd be able to drive it. So we've got a lovely question here about grassroots football. What advice would you give to nine-year-old girls in grassroots football

that are aspiring to play for Chelsea as they develop? That's a really nice question. I like that one. Do you know what I always say to my kids is about having fun? I think the main thing is about enjoying playing football

and being around your mates because the more you enjoy it the more you develop the more you take in and absorb and you want to be in the environment I think that is the key for me obviously embrace mistakes you know we all make mistakes I'll still make mistakes as an adult

and I think it's important that you know parents and coaches know just let them be free because I think these days there's so much structure to kids football we used to have freedom I used to go out and playing cages with people I didn't know and walk in the middle whose team are I on I think everything for kids now is so structured.

So go out and have the freedom to go and play in, you know, in the park or plough up the wall. I used to plough up the wall and hitting curbs and, you know, like those sorts of things. Going out and practicing kick-ups, like have a bit more freedom within it. Don't have always have the structure because the best, you know, players and a lot of the best players in football have come from street football and just playing and developing in that way. So have fun first and foremost.

Oh, this is a really good one. Who do you think currently is the best player in the WSL? this is a great question Hello back there I don't even know how to answer that That is really hard considering the standard and the amount of players

they're in the WSL who it's not like going back can I like you could go back to when I was playing and stuff like you'd go Kelly Smith like you could pick someone on that

I think the standard has gone up so high and there's so many international players now within it that's really hard to pick just one is that

have you got like a top five situation or like a few on a moment there we go right answer what is the best pre-match meal this is a great question I want to know what I need to go home and start eating

if I want to be a pro footballer pre-match I didn't obviously like to eat anything too heavy so usually poached eggs, toasts, some fruit yoghuts and stuff like that was for me some like eating the heaviest stuff like the chicken and the pasta and stuff as I say to everyone's really really different I liked the lighter stuff

that I didn't feel heavy going into the game I'm going to pretend I only heard pasta I love pasta Have you got any hopes for the future of women's football? That we continue to keep growing and developing. Money continues to be invested and it trickles its way down to grassroots and allowing girls to have the access to more football because I think we still haven't got enough in every club.

You know, you can go to a club and every boy can join the club whereas every girl can't sometimes they have to go and if they want to be in a girls team they can't they have to join them with the boys and I think it'd be nice to have the option that they can go to a club and actually be part of the girls' team. I love that. Let's get more girls in football. Oh, fantastic question. What's on your training playlist? I listen to a lot of garage. Do you? Yeah. I'm a garage, garage girl. That feels like

the confession of the century. I'm a garage girl and I always have been. It's funny because my kids go, what the hell is this? What should you go to? What's your, give me the track list. Listen, my memory these days, it's not great. I've got the fingers on there. I can't remember what happened yesterday these days but um no yeah UK garage playlist is usually my go to to get me sort of going other than that I'd then go old squad go ab on my kids are like what the hell I make him listen to smooth radio in the car but also kistery I can put kistery on it's like oh it's a banger yeah absolutely banger give me that give me a bit of greatest hits yeah in the disco oh this is a fun one obviously it was Halloween yesterday and you mentioned that some of their girls being silly and

wearing mass. What's been your best Halloween costume you've ever worn? Please, I haven't actually worn that many. I used to enjoy dressing the kids up. So I spent more time, I think, dressing them up and doing their makeup, then actually sort myself out. I did own a witch's dress at one point, which my kids say I am a witch every now and then, you know, so I think I live up to that. But yeah, that's probably a witch's one that was completely ripped to shreds and had a hat with a wig. Yeah, it's quite nice to put a wig on because I feel like someone knew. I love a wig. Yeah, different hair colour. It's like, Oh, I love a wig.

I'd love the ability to put a wig on every day and not have to do my hair. We're going to bring it back to the game to finish the podcast off. Who do you think the key players are to watch this afternoon? Millie's going to be solid at the back anyway, so there's no problem. She'll keep all the goals out of the night of the back.

In terms of Chelsea, I think we've got a solid team and a solid squad. I think, you know, you could take all of them out and put it. It's like American football, isn't it? You could take all of them out and put another load on from the bench and it'd be exactly the same stand.

So I think, yeah, it's going to be really interesting, I think, because the standards of the two teams. And, yeah, Chelsea's a made team over a long period of time and a great, fantastic squad and a good culture. So it'd be interesting to see the players they've bought, you know, whether they have managed to learn each other and learn habits and how each other plays and what that looks like today. So I'm really interested on that side of it. What sort of game are you expecting in terms of, like, intensity and tempo and maybe someone like the key battles on the page? I think it's going to be high-intensity game. I think a lot of it's going to be, it's really funny because when you come up a new team like that that you haven't played,

you're trying to figure each other out. So I think it's going to be interesting in that regard. I think it might start quite quick and take a little bit of time to settle down. But I think once it does, I think there's a lot of quality on that pitch. So I think it'll be a good game of football. Have you got a score prediction for us? I'm going to say 2-0 Chelsea.

I'd like them to score more than that, because as we said, like get the game done. And that'd be nice in the first off, please. Katie Chapman says, score more goals. 2-0, I'm going to go with. And a final question on this, who do you think's going to win the UWCL? Chelsea.

Can't say anyone else, can I? Right, answer again. We're going to get our hands on the, yeah, the next trophy. It'd be nice to get our hands on the Champions League as well because I think, you know, this club and these players deserve that. It has been absolutely fantastic chatting to you today, Katie. Thank you so much for joining with Chelsea Live.

Let's give a round of applause. Thank you. You lot have been fab as well. Thank you for sending in all of your questions. And of course, thank you to Skoda for their support in bringing today's episodes live. To everyone here,

thank you for being a part of the show and enjoy the game. Come on you, Blues. Yeah.