We Are Chelsea - We Are So Back! with Sam Kerr and Erin Cuthbert

Episode Date: September 18, 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 We’re back for season three! And we've got a new host too. Em Wallbank kicks things off with a bang as she's joined by podcast regular Erin Cuthbert and her best mate Sam Kerr.  There's a lot to catch up on including pre-season antics, Sam's long-awaited return to the pitch and her 100th goal and what it's like for her as a new mum (and Auntie Erin). We also introduce our brand new feature: Whistleblower, where the team help YOU solve your dilemmas. Expect laughs, honesty, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories. Enjoy! To watch the full episode on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/@chelseafcwomen/videos Send us your questions and Whistleblower dilemmas to [e-mail] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to We Are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with Skoda, the official car partner for Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. We are so back for season three and I am your new host, M. Walbank. I am thrilled to be here, so excited, huge football fan and an even bigger fan of women's sports. We're going to kick things off with our first two guests who need absolutely no introduction. First up, we've got Sam Kerr, who has just made her long away. returned to the pitch, having scored her

100th goal this weekend, and she's going to be joined by her best friend and fellow member of the T-4, Erin Cuthbert. We've got stories, we've got chaos, and we've got plenty of laughs, so stay tuned for season three, let's go. Hello, welcome. Well, I suppose you should be saying welcome to me

because you've been here more times than I am. Welcome you. Thanks to meet. Thank you. Nice to me here. So how's training been this season so far? Pretty intense, to be fair, to be fair to say we've been beasted. Maybe they won't say that. but I think it's been some tough football sessions a lot of it's been with a ball

but it's been tough I think there's been no sort of let up from anyone any session they are challenging us to be the best physically that we've ever been but I can speak from an individual point of view that I found the adaptation quite difficult it's been tough for my body to cope with that because we're used to playing so many games

that we've not been training a lot and then when you go back to preseason and you have so much training in in all games it can be quite an adjustment it's just been nice to train honestly i think especially in the sun it's not cold yet so i've been loving um yeah being back with the girls to be honest just having fun not really thinking about the hard work compared to other people because i've kind of been out from training for so long so i've kind of just been enjoying being in it and getting nutmeg and all the stuff that comes along with it oh so it's been good to be back then

yeah it's been good and good to be back here obviously this is our first time at the podcast. You're a podcast regular. I know. How exciting is it to be here with your best mate? Podcast doesn't live without you, mate. Oh, I know. We need not get enough yours. So thank you to all my Scottish followers. I, do you know what? It's been great. I, for one, certainly, I've missed Sam. You know, we all know what she brings on the pitch and we see the quality, we see the goal. I mean, the only person that can score that goal on Sunday against fellas, Sam. I've tried to kick it in a few times. Can't he score it? Sam gets the one kick it, scores it. Of course she does. I had about four chances. You told me if I didn't kick

it in you were going to. My, I was, but I wouldn't have scored. I'm not saying I'd have scored. I just try to kick it. So I've certainly missed her on the pitch, but I think just off the pitch, I think having the presence of just having Sam around because, you know, sometimes the rehab players work on total different schedules and timings. So to have Sam around the group, to have her banter or camaraderie like I've missed somebody to bounce off of I feel like I've got my sort of right hand man back and she understands me she's such a

positive person always tries to see the best and things and I know she's going to feel super embarrassed right now but honestly I don't normally gas my pals up but this girl honestly deserves it I love that supportive and it's amazing and you've just scored

your 100th girl that must be such an amazing feeling how are you feeling about that? I kind of wish my hundredth goal was my next one because I just wanted to get back and score and it was like I didn't even so many emotions everyone was like what are you feeling and I was like kind of just like not shocked I guess but like there was just so many things going through my mind like you saw with the celebration I was just like I couldn't even celebrate I was just like so happy to be with the girls and yeah it was just it no you know how I feel when I scored a goal that's that's literally how

I feel when I scored a goal now yeah there was just a lot going on um obviously coming on for the first time knew the 100th goal was right there, scoring my first goal with, like, some of my friends and family in the stands, the girls getting around me. There was just, like, so much going on, so many emotions and, like, yeah, it just seemed like, I was, like, laughing at it

because I was like, that surely didn't just happen. But, yeah, it was, like, now it feels nice that the, it kind of feels like I'm, like, you know, my first game for Chelsea again. And, I mean, scoring in my first game is better than when I first came here and didn't score for, like, seven. So, that's better. I'll take another 100 then.

That's your first. That's number one. Congratulations. 99 to go. Yeah, 99 to go. Until we get there. Yeah, because you've spent 634 days off the pitch. Is that right?

That's a massive amount of time. Feels like 6,000. I'm very happy to be back then. What was it like stepping back on the pitch after such a long break? Yeah, it felt really weird. I was saying that actually, Christy, too, on the way home that, like, I think people don't realize is when I last played. For Chelsea, it was like a whole different team, a whole different environment.

So it was like kind of like stepping into like a new team, like maybe like being a new signing. So it was different. It was like, yeah, it was just a whole different experience from when I like last played for Chelsea to now. It's like the whole place has changed from top to bottom. So there was, yeah, it was just like getting used to it again. I honestly felt like a new signing. And the fans went absolutely crazy for your performance this weekend. And what was it like hearing all that feedback in the moment?

Yeah, actually, that was quite a funny moment because, like, I heard the Chelsea fans, like, get up and start clapping and then I heard the villa fans booing, and I actually loved it because I'd actually miss getting booed. And I love that type of stuff, you know? So when the villa fans started booing, I actually started laughing because I was like, oh, that makes me feel like I'm back again, you know, not just like everyone cheering for me and, like, wishing me well with all my injuries.

It's like, now people are, like, booing me again. Normal service restored that way. Yeah, but I like that stuff. Like I thought that was like good chat from the killer fans, like booing me. I thought it was funny. It's almost a bit playful, isn't it? Yeah. It eggs you on a little bit more then, doesn't it?

Because you're like, oh, you think that's going to let me go again. Yeah, it was fun. I liked it. You mentioned obviously the camaraderie in the team. And what was it like as the rest of the team watching that moment and having that together? I celebrated it as I do celebrate all my own goals and my assists. Don't really know how to celebrate, to be honest. I think I was in a state of shock

because it was Sam who scored and we had a team meeting this morning to review the game in the first picture that they put up they put match review under and the first picture they put up was me giving her a big kiss in the cheek during the celebrations

and I've never seen that photo and I just thought my neck was out stretched in everything so it was just an amazing moment and I think you could say I've watched the game back

and I've watched that goal back so many times and if you just look at an individual player each time you look at it you see total different emotions and total different levels of like elation and everybody is just absolutely buzzing if it's hard if it was me nobody would have cared less to be honest with you not true because it's a big man everyone's buzz I'm sure the fans would have been there I of course but honestly I think Sam has been utterly exemplary in the whole process and I've loved seeing how positive if she is, because, you know, if anything happened to me, touched wood, that her, I would love to, you know, take sort of what Sam, how she's behaved because she's took everything

on her stride and when sometimes I would have had butted the wall a few times where how much, you know, bad luck she's had, but, you know, she's, she's treated her so absolutely, but obviously. Yeah, you've carried yourself so well. It was hard for me, but it was just nice to get on on the weekend and be like, I'm not hurt any more people, you can calm down. But yeah, it's, um, it's just been really nice. Everyone's been really nice. Everyone's been really happy for me really excited but I'm just relieved it's over yeah that's so good to hear that the reception's being good obviously you're out for quite a long time you missed you must have missed each other who do you think missed the other one more I think I missed her more because she's hilarious

I mean you can tell she's been on the podcast like seven times um I don't know maybe both the same it's it's hard like being not being on the pitch you miss so much of the banter you miss so much of the laughs even just like traveling down on the bus like everything you miss everything it's not just playing football um but i mean as you guys know erin cuthbert is one of the funniest people to ever live by just living her life not even trying to be funny that's what i love about her she's not trying to be funny she's just hilarious so i think she i've missed her more because she makes me laugh like every day i come home and i tell christie something and she's like i love i love erin she's so funny that must be quite nice being known as the is the fun one of the

great quality being the entertaining one it's absolutely braggia heavy as the head that wears the crown I guess same comedian that's it but it's just nice that she says that because you know there was a lot of dark days and we've got to keep each other sane and as long as I can bring a little smile then I've done my job

and I was like Sam like I proper missed the travel days the away days we've no had it since May so and she's no had it for six hundred and six thousand days let's just say since the dawn of time I can't imagine how she was feeling so yeah it was just brilliant

to have that sort of camaraderie again in the bus I was back trying to nudge her to get to my seat and she was kicking me and all sorts so I've honestly missed it so much it's character building we love a bit of friendly bullying don't we with you being maybe team joker what is the dynamic in the team like

is there like a team mum that keeps everybody sort of going is there a more chaotic person that's sort of causing chaos behind the scenes. What's the team dynamic like on a whole? Good question. I think Zichira would have been probably labelled as team mum. I think you'll agree.

She has become a mum now so. I am now the team mum. Yeah, I know. That's kind of weird. Who's the chaotic one? Mike has a wee bit chaos. She's always got something up her sleeve. Neve. Always trying to scare this one. Naves. Naves. Nave's terrible. She's a dark horse.

I'm telling you. Jack's all this sophisticated. Don't be fooled by that little smile. Yeah, she's a lot of her assholes. It's always the smiley ones, isn't it? Always the smiley ones. Indeed. You sound like you've got some decent memories between, what would you say is like your personal funniest memories

from your experience with the team so far? Oh. Oh. You think that? I saw there was like a Bluetooth thing of brain cells there. Oh, you know what I was thinking? We had a light bulb moment. Let's just say, we're going to.

leave it at plain incident but it was extremely funny so i can't i i can't leave that one to the imagination yeah plain incident so we do travel a lot together so everybody's always playing jokes on each other and let's just say i was the butt of the joke that oh oh but we'll leave it at that we'll leave it at that we'll leave it at that right speaking of personal we're going back into so you've become a mum fantastic how has becoming a mum affected your your outlook on training and you're like general day to day really. I keep getting this question. I don't think it's affected my like outlook on training or football because like I've

always, I love football. I love like it. I'm really passionate about it. And I think the only thing it has done is just given me more of an escape when I go home. Like it's just nice to go home and have the little man there and have something to think about because you've got to take care of a little human. I mean, I don't think it's really set in. And, like, me and Christy always laugh.

Like, sometimes he's laying on the bed and we're, like, laughing because we're like, wait. Yeah, like, who's put us in charge of this small human? That's, he's ours. Who gave us responsibility? And, like, I always say to her, it's so weird that, like, that's the person that we were going to visit when we had your scans. And, like, he's with us forever now. Like, we still haven't wrapped our heads around it. Maybe we never will.

But, yeah, it seems wild. What's your favorite thing about being a parent? I think he's just at a cool stage now where, like, he, like, when I come home, he's, like, so excited. to see me. It's just like a nice feeling. It's like having a dog times 100. That's the way I would explain. If you love having a dog, like think about when you come home. That's the tagline of parenting. It's like having a dog times a hundred times. Yeah, times a hundred times it's a hundred times harder and it's a hundred times better. So like people that love their dog like you love your baby way more but it's like real hard. Like you can't just put your baby out of the backyard and be like

yeah. It's not taking itself for a halfer. Like Jagger, can you just go out the back for half an hour And you're like, can you just Go chase this ball in the garden And it's like weird One thing I found about parenting Is like whenever you don't want the baby to cry Or like do a number two in their nappy

They do that's exactly it So it's like They're praying on your down for all times Yeah, it's like he knows He's evil He's got like a sixth sense He's really easy baby Have you met Jagger area?

What did you think? I'm scared to hold them Honestly You should see the photos I'm literally like this. We were looking at photos today and she's like, why are my hands like that? Yeah, I'm like, I'm just holding them in a way that mothers normally wouldn't

but I mean, it's not natural for me to be holding babies and especially when it's not your own, like you don't know how to hold it and that's what Sam was saying. Like, I couldn't imagine Sam ever being a mum when she first joined and with the fun that we had, we were wild but she explained something quite nice to me when she came over for dinner last week. She said, when it's yours, you just know what to do. And that's the way I see Sam, Sam's in pure mum mode when I'm around.

I'm like, who's that? And I'm like, oh, ft. Like, it's true. It's like a whole not the side of your friend, isn't it? Yeah, that you say you're on there. Totally. Like, I've no seen that side there, but she just knows exactly what to do. And because it's her own, but previously she'd be like, oh, babies, what?

Like, she's, oh, my God, get them away. But now she's just amazing. She's like, picks it up like that. I mean, she doesn't even fling it up, but like, picks it up. Rinn the arm and I'm like, yeah, pass it over here. I'm like passing it to Millie. I used to do that though. I used to hold it like you,

like a baby was going to break. Oh, yeah. I remember like going to visit family babies with my brother. My brother holds babies like bombs. He holds them like they're going to go off at any minute. And watching other people do that is absolutely hilarious. But at the same time, I think the same thing would happen to me if you handed me a baby. I'd be like, I don't know what to do with it.

Especially Sam Kel's baby. Right? You give Sam Kel's baby a bruise, then it was a problem. You know what I mean? I reckon he's going to love being a bruiser. What sport? Whatever it won't. It's too much.

Hope he gets into being like a scientist or a surgeon. Make heaps of money. Who in the squad would you trust to babysat? Would you trust anybody at the squad to babysat? Who would I trust? Probably Neve, honestly, because she's really keen. And I think if you're going to offer to have a baby, you at least have to be committed to like entertaining a baby

and she would be committed to it. It's a lot harder than people think because they can't talk back to her. Like, I don't know what you find funny made. You just have to, like, work out why they're crying. Is it like, they're nappy? Is it like nose is itchy? Yeah. And you can hear specific cries and know what that is from that?

I don't know. Yeah, it's weird. When it's your baby, you can tell. Like, I know he's tired. Like, I know he's tired. At what point did that kick in? At what point did you realize? Like, I've now got a superpower.

This is... Well, I was watching all this stuff on Instagram and I was like, when a baby cries, it's just to cry. But now I'm like, oh, no, I can tell now. It's weird. It just happens. It is so straight because like mum multitasking is a real thing as well. Like just being able to do nine things at once without even thinking.

I can't lie. I don't have that. Christy has that. I cannot lie. I don't have that. She will tell you, if she came on here and crashed this, she would tell me when I take care of Jags,

it's literally like the house turns into a bomb's hit it because like I don't have that multitasking yet. And I'm still nervous. Like I'm not one for vomit. So like when he does like a little stew. Who amongst us is one for vomit? Some people are like, baby vomit smells so good. I'm like, no, it ain't.

Although I don't, yeah. And I just like, I don't subscribe to that notion. I freeze when he like dribbles a little bit. And Christy's like, it's just dribble. I'm like, I don't like dribble. It's not for me. Keep it on the pitch. Keep the dribble on the pitch.

That is what we want. Speaking of the pitch, let's talk about preseason camp. Erin, you hosted initiations this year. Is that right? Yes. Were there any standout performances? To be honest. I think

was it Ellie's group Ellie Capenter's group done really well for the players but I think staff were resounding winners on this occasion we had one of the staff members win the initiations this time

and deservedly so she came up there and she hit those notes for anyone that doesn't that isn't familiar with the initiation process just take us through that like give us the detail

the low down so if you're new at the club expect to sing a song expect to be berated by myself expect to be have a few jokes about you as well but you have to go up to the in front of the group and you have to either perform probably a song or a dance max of three in a group just because you know some people drown other people out and then they get a waist got free so we don't like that and I just think it builds such good team character you know if you make yourself vulnerable in front of the group you're more likely to accepted in quicker and it really helps with the team building process so yeah there was

it was better this time but you know one person who's no done it yet i think no maybe there's a few is kira kira's no done it because kira did they come on the or alisa to go this is the official call out get your performances ready so yeah we've got a few players to go don't think they've got away with it just because the initiations are finished they will be at the next opportunity in the next camp, they will be stepping up. I can't wait to hear all about it. Is there anybody that takes it really seriously?

I think it's the staff's moment to shine. I think they sort of see it as their moment in front of the group. They see it as, okay, this is my chance to gain the respect to the players. This is quite cool. And they go for it, to be fair. And I think we, you know, of course, we've got a good relationship with the staff,

but I think at times they're doing their thing, they're up in the office we never see them and they're doing so much work for us that we don't we often kind of don't appreciate that as much but you know when they go for the initiations they go hell for leather and you know i still remember step's performance who who won it and it's it's sort of left a lasting impression and we've always got things in common now to talk about which is quite nice and i think sort of everyone feels that way that's so fun if you had to do your initiation ever again what would you do you know what i would I mean, 500 miles, it's just easy.

You're pretty good at an adult, too. Maybe a wee bit of Adele. Maybe I would have to just go, yeah, full solo. Is this like your secret skill now? No, I mean, I wouldn't say skill, but it's a bit far-fetched, but I'm trying my best. Secret Adele tribute act. Are we going to catch you at Haven on a weekend?

Aye, effort 100, skill level, maybe. Your first, hitting the first night is your special tea. any after that or do we just go for whatever we can find whatever's up there I like it on any given day any notes any notes a goal honestly hit all the notes have there been any particularly funny standout moments from camp this year I mean everybody's seen the sheep's I did not like that

Dan our goalkeeping coach one of the staff members one of the we were trying to herd the sheep into the pen and one of the sheep's trying to jump on his back and I'll never remember for as long as I am on this earth I will never forget how high that sheep sheep what's the singular

sheep? How high that sheep I want to know how sheep came into this in the first place honestly don't ask they call it team building but no sure yeah would you say that's the roguest team building you've done or is that fairly tame

probably but I mean, I'm going to tell you, I've actually done that before in Holland with Scotland at the 2017 euros. That was our team building event and it was probably the same company because I can't imagine there's a lot of sheep herding countries in Holland.

It's the real gap in the market for sheepherding guys. It probably was the same guy, but it's been certainly out there. Now, obviously you've just mentioned that you're Scottish. We saw Sonia describe you as proper English in the guest's the voice video. she's not recovering how few men were you about that

honestly it still makes my blood boil I should be handing in a transfer request right about now also because none of the English players were there which makes it even works I know there was no English there because it was all the lionesses were left at home to rest

but don't worry about me Sonia honestly I just I couldn't believe it I think there's a transfer request in coming we've got team beef don't talk about the sheep like that that is honestly a red card but I'm still don't go over that to be honest

I know the frustration because like I'm Northern I live in London No you don't you're the big brother You don't understand the frustration one bit You honestly give me peace If you were called Scottish you wouldn't mind Oh I get it all the time

I used to live in the US and they were like Are you Scottish? I feel fear when people say that to me because I'm like if a Scottish person heard them ask that they'd be a crucifixion it'd be horrendous

you love the Scots yeah I love the Scots I feel like we all love the Scots the nation that unite everybody yeah I feel like we've got a good bit of heritage we're so proud of our country I think that's sort of what sets us apart that's why I love going away in a national team

during different parts of the season because it's so good to just break up the stress and the pressure going away with your pals and when I go back with the Scots it's just like I never left that's class. Is there anything that you've brought from Scotland

that is like an essential part of your life now here at Chelsea? No, I think in terms of mentality and my passion, I think all Scots are very passionate about what we do so I think how you see me on the pitch is sort of typical of a Scottish player

and we always just give her best and we're just trying we never ever want the limelight or we never ever want our name and headlights but we're happy to just make the team win and i think we'll you know there's also another example of that in kim little who plays at arsenal you thought you're going to say scottomit i him and all to be no he's got the limelight to be fair um but yeah like like kim as well she's been an arsenal legend for so many years and just has quietly gone about her business for such a long time and this is a Chelsea podcast I'm talking about Scotland right

I'm just stirring aye so we'll get you a spoon I'm conversation over I'm done I've saved my peace with you both being from different nations is there any delicacies that you've brought and introduced to the team what was you had a lot of tim tim time or something

oh team time yeah but they still are using white shows now and they're cheaper than they are and that's that feels scableness That is, that is an abomination. Because what is it they do with the Tim Tams? Is it a Tim Tams slam where you bite the ends off and use it as a straw? Yeah, that is very Tim Tammy. Because we adopted that with Kit Katz in the UK.

Yeah, that's not the same. I feel like it's not. But like with, even with the exchange rate, a Tim TAM I saw today is $6 in Australia and it's like £2.75 pound here in the UK. So my mum's spending money bringing over Tim Tams and they're cheaper here. That's the real cost of living credit. Yeah, we need to start a petition that Tim Thames, Australian own and made should be cheaper in our own country. They really should.

How are we giving them to the English cheaper? Exports. That's just disgusting behavior, honestly. Get them at a Scotch, for love. Discount them for the Scottish, but for everybody else, make them more expensive. 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. time for after work training, muddy boots and early morning weekend games. Whether you play

five a side after work, cheer the kids on from the sidelines on a Saturday morning or gather with your mates to watch the big leagues every week. Skoda's the perfect companion for your everyday adventures. Skip around town in your all-electric eniac or give the squad a lift home in the seven-seater coda. There's something in the range to suit teams of all shapes and sizes. So don't just take my word for it. Search the Skoda range today to jump in and see you yourself. You've had a lot of new signings. since last season, one of them has been your Tilly's teammate, Ellie Carpenter. What's it like having her around?

Yeah, it's good. I mean, it's nice to have another Aussie, someone to bounce off with about Aussie things. But I mean, Ellie's great, isn't she? She's such a, like, lucky, happy-go-lucky person. She's just, like, so chill. She's your typical Aussie, honestly, just like, chill. She's a bit of another. Like, she can be a bit crazy.

But, yeah, I love Elle. She's so young. She's so, like, energetic. and I mean we've seen over the past two games she's such an athlete too so it's nice to have her on your team rather than her running at you so yeah it's really nice I'm really happy for it obviously coming to a club like Chelsea it's an amazing move for her so I'm happy for her on a personal level but really happy for us as a team that we get such an amazing player yeah give me those arm muscles yeah she's got some belt and arm muscles seriously I'd I wouldn't know what

how gym routine is because I need yoga legre release the gym room team. Pilates, Pilates. It's Pilates. It's Polaris. Is it Legre? I don't look like that. I don't get patience for that.

Oh, I do reform of Pilates and it's like training for a zombie apocalypse. I've never felt anything like it. You get on one of them boards. It's like Victorian torture methods. I think that's early, yeah. She's Legre. If that's like the thing, someone can correct me. But yeah, she's into the holding positions under tension.

That's impressive. What am I doing wrong? I've been doing Pilates for like six months. so I ain't doing that. I've been here and then you're looking at him. I'm not going to get spaghetti. You need to get into Legre over there. So we've got a new segment for the podcast this time.

This is called whistleblower. And you guys are going to blow the whistle in this scenario, essentially. We're going to give you, you're going to be the referee of people's actual real life scenarios. We've had some submissions. I'm going to give you the scenarios and you're going to tell me what you think of them. So the first one we've got, this is from a fan. I've just started a new job and realised that my manager is someone

I went on a date with three years ago neither of us has mentioned it but it feels really awkward when I see him do I say something or do I just ignore it say something oh my God what do you think I say something

because it's going to come up soon or run I mean if she doesn't fancy him anymore say something it's funny is there still potential there oh if there's potential there don't say something unrequited workplace romance don't say something if you still fancy him. Or maybe do. Maybe does the start. Just swipe on Tinder again. So second scenario,

pretty sure my neighbour keeps stealing my Amazon parcels. I've had the idea to start ordering random stuff just to freak them out. What should I send? Oh gosh. I feel like you should just buy a ring doorbell and watch them. Like as. All right. Every time the postman comes, watch them. I'm like, leave it behind a bend. See who's stealing you. I would love that. That's right up my alley. Me too. I love to be Mr. Investigator. and watch. I read it and I was like how can I cause more of a mess

and you were like no let's cut this down in the tracks let's catch this criminal so we've got our third and final scenario my daughter is four and just starting to get into football I'm a Chelsea fan big up but my partner's a Spurs fan

how do I make sure she grows up supporting Chelsea? That's a real divide that between parents I had a bit of divide I had a Celtic Rangers divide and my mum and dad so listen I can

that I can best be best place with the advice. Whatever you prefer the colour of the shirt, you've got to let the kid be what it wants to be. I mean, it's going to be a Chelsea shirt. You're going to make sure that that one goes front and centre. There's going to have to be some bribery going on. There's maybe a certain stench coming off the other hand. I was a Fred day one to the Chelsea shirt.

Just give it nice. If the kid's forced, you'll like the nice brucey perfume on the blue one. And then you just leave the one sweaty, smelly, dad's just worked out in it or something. and then just put it there and be like, yeah, choose your poison love. What is it? All the kids out nowadays, stick like pepper pig on it or something. Little pepper pig sticker in the corner. I always felt like as a kid, if my parents tried to make me do something, I did the opposite.

Oh, controversial. So we need to know how the kid is. But like even my nephews now, like they always ask me these questions about football now because they're getting into it and whatever I say, they say the opposite. So I'd just say, I love Tottenham. You should wear the Tottenham one, make it wear the Chelsea one. Oh, I don't think I could bring myself to say that. That is such mum advice, man.

you can actually tell she's her mum here's me I split with perfume and make it's merely the other one yeah we went straight for bribery and she's like no reverse psychology that's how I work as a kid well it's still how I work as a person

if someone tells me don't touch something I'm like but if you don't say anything I would have never touched it so I think tell them to wear the Tottenham one and the kids wear the Chelsea I don't think I could bring those words out of my mouth you know my other half's a Tottenham fan and that's just

no it could cause war in our house. Right, so we're looking ahead to the rest of the season. Are you guys excited about the rest of the season to start with? Because it has been such a strong start for you all. The first few games have been really, really great. And the camaraderie on pitch has just been so, so intense to watch. I think Cameradry's been there, but I don't think we've played particularly well over the two games. We had a really good first half against Man City and a really good setting half against Aston Villa. So she was trying to put it together in making a proper 90 minute performance out of it

so we're under no illusions the league is super hard this year and Aston Villa we're a great opponent at the weekend and likewise Man City especially in the second half so it's going to be tough you know we're not

everything's not sunshine and roses you've always got a target in your back when you're Chelsea every time a team comes to play you they've got that extra 5% against you and that's just how it is you know whenever whenever I was playing in Scotland when I was playing at Rangers

when we're playing Glasgow City. Always had that bit extra when you play against the champions because you've got to be the one that beats them. And also, we've got an unbeaten record at the moment. I know that's not going to last forever, but everyone's going to be the one that wants to spoil that party. So it's been on it every single game. It's been more laser-focused than we've ever been,

even more than last season. So it's going to be a tough year. But I'm certainly looking forward to it, and it's good to have this one back. She does feel a new signing, honestly. But I'm sure you'll be. be excited as well? Yeah I think I always think even before my injury I always think the first part of the season's always the hardest because it's like you play games you're not fully like into the

swing of things yeah it's you know still kind of preseasonish while you're playing games and then it seems like the big games are so far away so I always feel like the start of the season for me has always been the most difficult because you want to stay really focused you want to stay fit you want all those things but it feels like the more important games are miles away even though these games right now are so important or like when you look back on the end of the year these are the most important games starting well but as a footballer you know you always want to play in the big games and you love business end of the season yeah I think as Chelsea we've always been like business end of the season is amazing but the work that you do at the start of the year is like really

hard to I guess make yourself be able to be there at business end but no I think it next year next week month oh my god what day is it next month when like champions league starts and all of that that's when it really starts to get real um but i think with our team it's such a competitive place that when you have one game a week it it is really difficult it's a difficult place to be so i think these first few weeks always i've found really difficult to stay mode not motivated motivated motivated is not the word because we're all really motivated stay like focus stay you know locked in you need to stay fit you need to stay healthy it's um part for me where it takes extra care and extra motivation to do everything I need to do to be there at the end of the

season. Yeah, because you're almost like laying a foundation for yourself for the rest and like building up on that and making sure that you're putting yourself on the right foot. And especially off the back of winning the domestic treble last season as well, what excites you the most about the season with this squad? I mean, I think this team's always been incredible. So there's, I think every year there's excitement around new signings. what we can achieve and I think, you know, everyone's said about, you know, the trophies,

but I think the main one we won is the Champions League. So I think just that hunger still still to get what we want, to get where we all want to go. So I think for me this, every year it's exciting with this team. It's nothing new. But I think now we have a really good base. I think last year there was a lot of change. There was a lot of movement. Whereas this year there wasn't as many new signings.

So I feel like we've got a bit more stability this year than. having six, seven. And it was tough. Like we had so many big players leave the club last year and Emma, of course. So it felt like a little bit of a massive change, whereas this year it's like, okay, we're all settled now and we can. I know the girls did amazing, but it felt like a new year for everyone. Yeah. Sam, now that you're back, what are you most excited to do on the pitch? Are we going to see the backflip again? I mean, I would like to, yeah. I mean, I plan to. but I just got to take it easy. I honestly wasn't even like thinking about scoring on the weekend

and I haven't thought about it because I've just been like, I just want to get back on the pitch and enjoy myself and be involved again. So hopefully, but let me get a few more games and goals under my belt. Probably not in the next few weeks. What have the coaches said about you doing a backflip again?

Are they keen on that? They don't have a say. They haven't said anything. I mean, neither did Emma or any of my other national team coaches as long as I don't hurt myself but yeah that's why I'm saying leave it a few more weeks because I need a few more games and goals under my belt before I can start being

the old Sam again being a Wally they'd have a problem if I said I was doing a backflip well that's because you wouldn't land it no I'd land on my neck I would land just on my neck I think I could speak for everyone else please don't land on your neck as you wish I'd do enough for that in the pitch to be for us

a few backflips here and you'll probably see Being back together, is there something off pitch that you guys are excited to do this year? My wedding. Hey! This one's getting married. That's so exciting. When did you get married?

Can't tell you. Secret. New Year's Eve. Oh my gosh. So new mum, back on the pitch and wedding planning, all at the same time. Yeah. Wow. That's intense.

And she said she's not a multi-tasker. I feel like she's just proven herself wrong. Exactly. I'm not done. anything for the wedding other than turning up let me tell you that I'm not picking any flowers we could have done a doubt tell the bride situation it's two months out you still don't have an outfit

when are we going yeah I need to go I want to go on I don't have my outfit yeah I'll just find something I'm sure you'll be able to find something maybe that's leave it to the team like the team pick no no chance I've seen some outfits on a night out is there any other that you're like at me you're the only other person as soon as you said that I've seen some outfits would you trust any of them to dress you um surely kish yeah kish is very cool i mean i saw

lucy's new thing new pop-up thing i was thinking looks pretty smart i wouldn't have them no i think i'm like a very specific type of what i want so like i can't i just like no by looking at something if i like it or not so i'm not very like out there so i think i just stick to myself are you quite decisive yeah i like can tell by the feel of the material you know if it it itaches me or touches me it's oh that's what's surreal like when there's a tag at the back of your neck yeah when the material's like itchy and scratchy i saw like a ghost come past your eyes then when i mentioned a tagger there's some trauma there it's bad yeah do you know what as well like even like tops when you buy tops like i've bought so many tops for like a sauce and i've like

pulled it and the whole things came where it's got back that's aisos What happened to durability in women's clothing? No, no. First, they started making the pocket sizes smaller, then they started making the clothes fall apart. The pocket sizes are smaller and the phones are bigger. Make it make sense. I canny sit down anymore.

Do you just say canny? You really have been on this podcast for almost an hour and you've already said canny. We all say it. Do you think you're adopted or something? We all say it in Robbroom, you need an initiation hen before you can even whip out the canny? Am I getting it?

Is this it? Have I got to do an initiation? Is that your next podcast appearance? Yes, she's done next week. Sorry, I'll see you next week. Same time. I'll start preparing. I'll get my tap shoes out.

I'm brilliant. I feel like that is a great pace to leave it on. Thank you so much for joining me on the first episode of season three. It's been an absolute joy to have you both. Can't wait to see you both on the pitch next. And thanks so much. Thanks. Thank you.

Thank you for listening to We Are Chelsea, the official podcast of Chelsea Women, brought to you in association with, with Skoda, our official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport. Remember, if you want to get involved in the podcast this season, send us your whistleblower stories to our email. We are Chelsea at ChelseaFC.com. We'll feature some in every episode, so make them juicy, and I'll see you all next episode.