Maren Mjelde claimed that her Champions League campaign with Chelsea has better prepared her for the big matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Mjelde was a key part of the Chelsea side that reached the semi-finals of the premier club competition before being knocked out by eventual winners Olympique Lyonnais.
Mjelde is just one of three Chelsea players bracing the Norway side and is joined by both Maria Thorisdottir and new signing Guro Reiten- the latter is already on the scoresheet for her nation.
Speaking ahead of Norway’s crucial group stage match with hosts France, the international captain knows all too well about the threat her opposition pose.
Whilst being knocked out by Lyon, Chelsea also prevailed against Paris in the same tournament so Mjelde has faced many of the French national side recently.
Not only has the competition bettered her understanding of the players but also her experience in playing in the biggest competition in domestic football.
It is an experience she claims has prepared her for the biggest stage in international football too.
She said: “I would say so, with Chelsea we played against both Paris and Lyon, most of the players play for them. I have played against them a couple of times, so I feel prepared for the game.
“The Champions League is a big competition and that kind of experience is valuable in these types of tournaments.”
The Blues midfielder has been transformed into a central defender for her national team and plays alongside Chelsea teammate Thorisdottir.
It is a position that Mjelde has adapted to well after helping keep a clean sheet in Norway’s 3-0 winning World Cup opener against Nigeria.
France though pose a very different kind of threat and are amongst the favourites to win the competition altogether.
Norway will need the experienced Chelsea player to be at her very best if they are to get anything from the result in their own bid to progress to the Round of 16.
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