Without wishing to patronise the players of Chelsea Ladies, all of whom have experienced the glamour and prestige of playing on the grandest stages, it is hard not to frame the Champions League game against Wolfsburg on Wednesday night as a major step in the right direction given that they have never played at Stamford Bridge.
The way Gilly Flaherty tells it, the team’s main focus will be on wiping out the disappointment of relinquishing their grip on the Super League title last week, while there is also a chance to gain revenge for the defeat against Wolfsburg in this competition last season. Yet Chelsea’s vice-captain acknowledges that the opportunity to play a Champions League tie in one of the most recognisable stadiums in England, with its silky playing surface and plush facilities, is a landmark moment for the women’s game.
Although Chelsea have been permitted to open only the East Stand because of security reasons, there has been no shortage of interest from their supporters and those attending will get value for money given that tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for children. Only a few remain.
“For us as a club, it’s a great step forward,” Flaherty said. “We all want to play at the biggest grounds possible and to play this Champions League game against Wolfsburg at what we’d like to call our home, in front of Chelsea supporters, will be a great moment.
“We’re not lucky enough to play there every week but it is our home ground and against Wolfsburg we need to make sure it’s a fortress.
“When I was at Arsenal we played a couple of games at the Emirates but it was more towards the end of the men’s season, before they cut the pitch up. It’s fantastic that we’ll be holding a Champions League game there, not a friendly. It’s a big statement from the club.”
Chelsea trained at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night and Flaherty believes that she and her team-mates will not be fazed by the significance of the occasion. Nor will they struggle to adapt to the slick pitch. They usually play their home matches at Staines Town’s Wheatsheaf Park, which often receives the loving attention of Chelsea’s groundstaff.
“It’s grass, it’s 11 players,” Flaherty said. “I think I thrive in those situations, with our fans in full force there. It’s a big game. You can’t let the stadium or the pitch become an excuse.
“We’ve been able to prepare in the right way. We’ll relish the opportunity of being there and all our players will step up. We’ve had FA Cup finals at Wembley, we’ve played in World Cups and Euros. We’ve got a lot of experience. We’re used to it.”
The defender knows that Chelsea are underdogs against Wolfsburg, who were European champions in 2013 and 2014 and reached the final last season, losing on penalties against Lyon after a 1-1 draw. Chelsea, who travel to Germany for the second leg the following Wednesday, will have to be at their very best in order to make it past the round of 32.
A lack of consistency has been their undoing this season. Having won the double two seasons ago, they lost the FA Cup final against Arsenal in May and their title challenge was over after their comprehensive defeat by Manchester City 10 days ago. “We have to make sure we have the right mindset,” Flaherty said. “Not many people are expecting us to get a result. But we have a great chance to put things right after the Man City game.
“Last year we were such a hard team defensively. For whatever reason we’ve been disappointed in some results. We drew 1-1 against Birmingham, for example, and it was our mistake for the goal. We have to get that consistency back in all areas of the pitch. We’re learning from it and we’ll come back stronger next year.”
Flaherty is glowing in her praise of Wolfsburg – “A fantastic team, physical, powerful and great technicians of the ball,” she says – and knows that the Chelsea’s fighting spirit will be pushed to the limit.
Under the Stamford Bridge lights, however, and in front of a partisan home crowd, anything is possible.
