Chelsea ahead Erin Cuthbert nonetheless finds herself dreaming of a primary Champions League trophy regardless of boss Emma Hayes’ agency reality-rooted method to the competitors.
The Blues, who face Ajax at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Enviornment on Tuesday evening within the first of their two-leg last-eight encounter, stay on track to change into simply the second English facet to finish a quadruple – with Arsenal Ladies having accomplished so in 2007 – when Hayes was a member of the Gunners’ teaching workers.
The European membership title is the one accolade that has thus far eluded Hayes, who after successful 15 trophies in command of Chelsea will depart on the finish of the season to take up her new position as head coach of america ladies’s nationwide workforce.
Cuthbert mentioned: “It will imply all the things to get to the ultimate and to go on and win it. However you recognize, I’ve been at this membership so lengthy, it’s all a few course of.
“I feel we’re within the quarter-finals now and it’s two ties that lie forward. Two robust video games towards a extremely robust workforce who’ve greater than proved themselves at this stage.
“So I feel we’re beneath no illusions, it’s going to be a troublesome sport tomorrow, however in fact it’s laborious to not dream just a little bit.
“You’re a soccer participant, however on the similar time I’ve been so well-drilled beneath Emma that it is extremely process-oriented.”
Chelsea have reached a Champions League semi-final 4 occasions of their historical past, coming closest to the title in 2021, when Cuthbert got here on as a second-half substitute within the Blues’ 4-0 loss to Barcelona within the closing.
They at present lead the Ladies’s Tremendous League, stage on 40 factors however with a purpose distinction benefit over Manchester Metropolis and can play Arsenal within the Conti Cup closing later this month earlier than taking up Manchester United in April for an opportunity to defend their FA Cup title at Wembley the next month.
Ajax are simply the second Dutch facet to have reached a final eight after Saestum in 2006/07 and by Monday, had offered 34,200 tickets for Chelsea’s go to, placing the competition on track to be the best-attended ladies’s sport Dutch historical past.
Hayes’ facet know a factor or two about huge crowds, having seen a Chelsea Ladies report 32,970 guests at Stamford Bridge on Friday for his or her 3-1 WSL victory over Arsenal.
Cuthbert added: “It’s their first time at this level within the competitors. We will definitely use our expertise as a bonus, (however) I definitely know that if I used to be within the competitors for the primary time, I’d be taking part in with out concern.
“We must be cautious of that as effectively. They’ve bought nothing to lose and we’ve bought all the things to lose, so we’ll be giving it all the things.”
Regardless of the dearth of a Champions League trophy in her cupboard, Hayes dismissed the suggestion this competitors may matter extra, saying: “Each sport means rather a lot to me. You may see that simply within the league and having a report crowd at Stamford Bridge.
“I actually don’t portion any extra emotional response to 1 competitors over the opposite.
“I want to be a part of a workforce that wins as a lot as doable, so I’m excited to be on this area, I noticed the standard on the market, I’m trying ahead to the ambiance.”
