Why Chelsea quadruple hopes remain - Anita Asante
This is a boxing match-up now. Chelsea and Manchester City are throwing punches at each other.
It's absolutely a real thing to want revenge. It's what I expect to see from Chelsea when they face City in the second leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final on Thursday.
They will want revenge because City ended their unbeaten run, put their quadruple hopes at risk and they lost the game - they are not used to losing games.
They will want to turn that around. They will probably have been ruthless to each other in training and in the dressing room.
I would be asking, 'Do you know what is it at stake?' Every day this week will have been a battlefield when I think about the players in that squad.
The likes of Lucy Bronze, Erin Cuthbert and Millie Bright... These are big leaders and big characters.
They will be going for blood in that second leg - and they face them in the Women's Super League this Sunday as well.
There's a lot at stake. Everyone is saying the Champions League is the one trophy that is missing from Chelsea's cabinet. It is a monumental game.
- Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
- Cushing's 'tactical masterclass' as Man City put one foot in semis
- Chelsea 'miles off' - but first defeat 'no drama'
Chelsea can create 'fear factor'
Manchester City have the bit between their teeth and a bit of a new manager bounce. There is a togetherness and belief.
However, you can never write Chelsea off. If City had got a third goal in their 2-0 win in the first leg, I would have felt that was a steep hill for Chelsea to climb.
But with just two goals in it and the depth that Chelsea have at home at Stamford Bridge, I definitely feel it's still possible for them to win the quadruple.
Their mentality, their leadership, experience in the team and the unwavering belief they have within themselves mean you can't write them off.
They were so calm after losing that game at Joie Stadium - their first in 31 matches and first under manager Sonia Bompastor.
They were obviously disappointed but there was an assuredness to Bompastor's tone when she reflected on it. She knew they were beaten by a good team but knows this is the level and they have to raise it next week.
They are just so focused on their goals. City are making it difficult for them and have broken that unbeaten run so credit to them.
But I think Chelsea will put all their energy into this second leg. They are comfortable in the league and their priority will be the Champions League now.
There is always an element of fear factor you can cultivate as a team and a club when you have that success behind you.
In my time at Arsenal when we won the quadruple in 2007 and went 108 league games undefeated between 2003 and 2009, there was an awareness of the weight of expectation we put on ourselves because of the badge we represented and the legacy of that club.
We knew we had to show up. On any day it could go wrong. In the UEFA final - what is now the Champions League - we knew we were coming up against the big hitters of (Swedish side) Umea. They were the ones with an aura and the superstar names like Marta.
We knew on paper they were going to be considered the better team but we had built a level of momentum domestically by going unbeaten. We had confidence and belief we could do something to disrupt the current order of things in the women's game in Europe.
'I felt nauseous ahead of big games'
I don't know if it's harder to win a quadruple now. There were different challenges then that there are now. Ultimately, it should be hard.
There were games in our season when we came off thinking 'wow' and also games that were tight, marginally won or we could easily have lost because the other team was better and didn't get what they deserved.
There is an element of relief when you overcome those games. Sometimes I didn't even enjoy those games! You have to find a way to bounce back if you lose – or in our case, put in a really bad performance.
You don't have time to wallow in disappointment, regret or worry about what you could or should have done. You can only learn from that feeling. In football, you attach feelings to moments in the game or in your career.
When you feel good, you're playing well and with instinct, all of that synergy gives you a shield mentally. It's the same when you don't have a good performance.
Chelsea will have had a broader awareness of the noise around the team and the talk about going unbeaten for the season. Whether internally they discussed it, I'm not sure. But of course there will be players who are disappointed.
That's the reality of being in the positions that these top, elite players are in. You are faced with high pressure and expectations. They are competitive by nature and ultimately it is a bit of a sink-or-swim scenario. You can't go back and get that moment back this season. It's now or never to make up for it.
When I was in those high-pressure situations, of course I felt nervous. Of course I felt nauseous because that is how big it is and how much it means to all the players, the staff, your family and the fans. It means so much to be on that journey and to potentially achieve something that will live long in the memories of so many people.
My way to show I could handle the situation was to have control and calmness in my game. It wouldn't be normal if the Chelsea players didn't feel the weight of that pressure.
Some people thrive on those feelings and love to live in that space - and I'm sure they do.
Anita Asante was speaking to BBC Sport's women's football news reporter Emma Sanders.
Topics
-
Chelsea beat Manchester City to win Subway Cup final, keep quadruple on track
Chelsea checked off their first piece of silverware in their ongoing pursuit of a quadruple under new manager Sonia Bompastor following their 2-1 win against Manchester City in the Subway Cup final ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Chelsea wins Women's League Cup final for first trophy in quadruple bid
Chelsea’s quadruple bid in women’s soccer is up and running. A 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final on Saturday earned Chelsea its first piece of silverware this season. ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Chelsea edge past Man City to win League Cup
Chelsea edge past Manchester City in the Women's League Cup final to win their first trophy under Sonia Bompastor and keep their bid for a historic quadruple alive.BBC News - 6d -
One down, three to go: Chelsea on course for quadruple after League Cup win
Chelsea's bid to win four trophies was kick-started with a 2-1 win over Man City in the League Cup final.ESPN - 5d -
Miedema nets brace as Manchester City inflict first defeat of the season on Chelsea
Vivianne Miedema came off the bench to score twice as Manchester City recorded a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final tie at The Joie ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Barca eye Women's Champions League semis, City hand Chelsea first defeat of season
Barcelona are on track for the last four of the Women's Champions League after the holders routed Wolfsburg 4-1, while Manchester City's 2-0 win handed Chelsea their first defeat this season in ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as visitors dealt first defeat of season
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea: Vivianne Miedema struck twice off the bench to secure a first-leg advantageYahoo Sports - 1d -
Chelsea win Women’s League Cup final after own goal denies Manchester City
Women’s League Cup final: Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City Ramírez 8, Hasegawa 77og; Fujino 64 It seems as though nothing can stop Sonia Bompastor in English football. Not a change of manager from ...The Guardian - 6d -
Chelsea need to ‘focus on the future’ after Manchester City end 28-game unbeaten run – Sonia Bompastor
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor says her side needs to “focus on the future” after their 28-game unbeaten run came to an end following a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. Two goals from half-time ...Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 27m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 27m -
England vs Albania LIVE: Thomas Tuchel takes charge of first game at Wembley
The Three Lions begin their journey under Tuchel as qualifying for the 2026 World Cup gets underwayYahoo Sports - 27m
More in Sports
-
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 25m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 27m -
Pitcher Julio Urías suspended through the All-Star break by MLB under domestic violence policy
Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players' association. Urías ...Yahoo Sports - 27m -
England vs Albania LIVE: Thomas Tuchel takes charge of first game at Wembley
The Three Lions begin their journey under Tuchel as qualifying for the 2026 World Cup gets underwayYahoo Sports - 27m