Media Day Diaries: Inside Chelsea

BBC-podcast on suurin edellinen edellinen edelleen. Meille Akrija Eläinvakuutuksessa on tärkeää, että lemmikilläsi on mahdollisuus parhaa sen hoitoon. Eläinvakuutuksemme tarjoavat sopivan turvan kaikenlaisiin tarpeisiin. Sinä valitset vakuutuksen laajuuden, me tarjoamme maksuttaman etä eläinlääkäriin, sekä nopean suora korvauksen klinikan kasalla. Luöllisää, Akriapistefi. BBC-wemmin football weekly. On BBC-sounds. Hello everyone, Welcome back to the Women's Football Week. You join us for another juicy bonus pod. We're another one of the WSL preseason media days today. We're down in southwest London, and it's Chelsea's training ground in Cobham. Now, really interesting season for Chelsea last year. They won the league cup. They went to the quarter finals of the Champions League, but a bit of a strange one, in that they're so used to winning the league. They've had such success over the years. Had an amazing record in the FA Cup as well. And yet, they end of the season with just the one trophy. Now, they won't be able to take part in the league cup this year, because they're in the Champions League. We'll talk about that again on a future pod, just how the league cup is changing to not include the Champions League teams. But aside from that, some new signings, a little bit of changing, lots of their legacy players have been here for a long, long time moving on. We're going to get into all of that and more with some of the biggest characters here in Southwest London. And we are going to start with Ellie Carpenter, who had a really special first season at the club. BBC Women's Football Week. On BBC Sounds. Ellie, welcome back. Thank you. I'm trying to, I think, maybe we did this time last year. We did. Had a good sit down then. How was your first full season in the WSL? Yeah, I really enjoyed it. Obviously not kind of the results we wanted in the end. We did achieve what we wanted to as a team, but I think individually, I'm happy I had my first season at Chelsea. And yeah, I can't believe that's been a year ago. The last time that we sat down and had it. Crazy how quick that went, isn't it? Burst onto the scene though, didn't you? Stand for Bridge, first game? Yeah. That must have been nice. Getting that experience straight away, I think that was a Friday night as well. Oh, yeah. So the first game of the season, and then had that experience of Stand for Bridge straight away. And then I think I might have seen throughout the season all the big games at Stand for Bridge, you kind of showed up as well. So was there something about that place that kind of did something for you? Yeah, I think that first game kicked off the season, I think at Stand for Bridge under the lights. It was really nice to make my professional debut really there. And yeah, have a good game. And I think it was really nice to experience Stand for Bridge. I've heard so much about it before the season started and it was finally nice to play there. And then, yeah, I guess I really enjoyed playing there for the rest of the season. Some people just thrive on it. Yeah. Just having the atmosphere, the feeling of being in the biggest stadium. No, you're right. But I think it's just sometimes certain plays. You can just bring something out. Yeah, I do love playing in big stadiums. I love a night game. You know, I love the crowd, the atmosphere. I think some so happy we're playing all that games there this season. I'm really excited for that. We were chatting before about you setting up home. And I remember it was kind of like you were in that horrible, stressful period of moving the entirety of your life over to London. Are you at settled point now? Have you got everything, how you want it and where you want it and all of that? Yeah, fully settled now, year in. We also have a dog, so we added that to our family. Oh, you thought I'll get some more chaos in. I don't know. I don't know the member with family. I think not very settled in London now, year here. Feels like home, so it's really nice. That's nice. That didn't take long. No, it didn't take long. I feel like when you move somewhere, you can't into a dad quickly. I think being here and also moving into a new house, I think it all happened quite smoothly. I think it helps when you come to work every day here and then you can go home and that's also a new part of life, a new country, experiencing new things. I think it was really nice and I can't, I honestly can't believe it's been one year. How did you feel walking back in this time around, you had a bit of a break? Coming through the doors here, did it feel like, "Oh, okay, just going back in, no trepidation, sort of already fell up part of the furniture maybe?" Yeah, I think so. I think walking back in this season, it's exciting, some new signings as well. Yeah, definitely a different field from today to last year. I think obviously been one year already here at the club. Excited to build on my first year here and I guess I feel more part of the furniture than I did last year. Give me a high in your low from last year. Oh, hi. Probably my first goal at Stanford Bridge. That was pretty special. I had low, probably getting knocked out of Champions League. Must give you that. It was that one hurt a little bit, yeah. Back your mind for the season? Yeah, for sure, that's one of the goals of the team. I think we have a great squad this season and it's definitely something we're looking towards and we have those qualification games coming up soon at the end of August, so our full focus is on that. Can we talk a little bit about Melvin as well? How excited are you for her to be a part of this? How much have you played a little bit of a role behind the scenes as well? Yeah, I'm so excited that she's signed for Chelsea. I had such a great relationship with her and Leon. Off the field, she's such an amazing genuine person, great teammate, brings so much vibes, energy and on the field, yeah, she's a fantastic player. You can tell by the way she plays. Played for Manchester United and also for France. She adds so much to her team, so I'm so happy she's here, reunited. Yeah, I did have some conversations with her before. Just sneaking those in. I think we've ever had her on the pod, what she likes person. She's so funny, she's so bubbly, when she walks into a room, she lights up the room with her smile and her energy. It's kind of contagious. You cannot have enough of those people, can you? No, yeah, and I feel like bringing that into this team is so nice and if you're having a bad day, she makes your day nice and better. Yeah, she's just a lovely teammate and also works so hard on the field for each other like everyone and she's a big team player so yeah, it's great to have her here. What a gift. That's such a rare thing, isn't it, in a person that they're just by being around them, you kind of like take their energy, you love that. Yeah, no, there's been so much of that, I think, over the last few years at Chelsea, there's been a lot of people that you look at and think, well, what amazing characters. But maybe in the last 24 months, you've not seen those players move on? Does it feel different from when you joined? It's massive characters stepping away from the club last season. Yeah, I think there's been a shift in the club. I think a lot of legends and a lot of people that have been at Chelsea for so many years, creating this club, you know, winning all the trophies, you know, creating that legacy here, have moved on and I think now it's kind of like a new generation coming through and a new set of players coming through new signings and, you know, now it's our turn to kind of make that legacy here at Chelsea and come together as one and, you know, to build on our goals and hopefully achieve those. So what does that look like this season? I mean, Chelsea fans are the same thing I've been ever going to expect to win everything, but what do you do that like for you guys? Yeah, for us, I think, you know, the first and foremost is, you know, being a team and being together and we know we have so much quality in this team and I think, you know, just pushing each other on the field to bring the best out of everyone and, you know, winning games, obviously that's what Chelsea do, what their history is about and, you know, we were trying to win every game this season, obviously, but I think, yeah, just being a team, playing for each other and enjoying ourselves also on the pitch, because I think when you're enjoying your football, you're playing your best football. Two things that I want to ask you to finish up. So this season will end with a World Cup. I wondered how much that will play on your mind and how much for you personally, given the experiences that you've had with the national team, that will kind of help drive you a little bit just on a personal level. Yeah, for sure. I think knowing that a World Cup, this is a World Cup year in this season, it's massive, I think, for everyone as well. You want a great leading to that and you want to come off a great season leading into the World Cup. So, yeah, it's always going to be in the back of my mind and, you know, gearing up hopefully for my third World Cup with Australia. So, yeah, I'm really excited and looking forward to that as well. Final question. We've got Lutti Brunsnext. If she is the answer, what is the question? Ooh. Who's won the most Champions League at Chelsea? I think Chelsea, that's a great record to have, isn't it? I think she has five. I think Melvin maybe has four. That's such a flex, isn't it? I think she would have five. It's five. Yes, that's a pre-season. That's a pretty good, pretty good one, gentlemen. Thank you so much. And we look forward to watching you this season. Thank you, appreciate it. Let's go from one Champions League winner to another or multiple times Champions League winner. Welcome back to the pod, Lutti Brunsne. And we are going to see you next time. start with a small apology. - Why? - The last time, actually look, firstly apology in that we only had you on the board, I think two times last season. You made a third appearance, but are wonderful M Sanders, forgot your golden mic muff. - Yeah. - I said something fun. I think I said something. - Normally, complain. - Yeah. - Said in a strongly way to leave. - I was like, what's going on? This is mental. - I almost refused to the whole interview. - You just got to walk down. - Walked out on this. - Never again. - We'll try and make sure it's more of a regular thing this season. - Yeah. - How are you getting on? And are we saying congratulations? We are saying congratulations. I think this is like one of the first times we've seen you and your career going, extend like this. - Oh yeah, I think people think that's like a bit of a thing. - I think we're extended a contract. - Which is actually, - That makes you sound like flirty. It makes you sound like, get itchy feet. - I actually don't think that's true though. - Is it not? - I think at Liverpool, I did. But the contracts was just so awful and so short anyway that no one noticed. - It's two month contract being extended by two months. - Yeah, I think I'm sure I did at Liverpool. I had a change of contract. I think that's the only place. - But it's different now, huh? Like in terms of the actual contract situations. It's actually, it's probably a little bit more, from the outside looking in, it probably looks like a bigger thing than it is maybe. - Maybe. - Or it's still a big deal. - For me, it's not. I'm very, like, I'm always very clear on the decisions that I make. I think for some people it's hard, especially nowadays, like, where do you go? Where do you improve? Where do you win? Like, the options are endless really. Like, for 10 years ago for me, I was like, I need to play for Leon. It's the best team in the world, undoubtedly. Like, there is no competition second best. So for me, like, going there and making that decision was easy, then being English coming back to the English League has been easy, whereas for younger players or foreign players, it's like, or even English players now. Like, you have to, you're making the decision for your career. - Yeah, it's a huge sort of, yeah, forking path. - And you watch people as well, you watch people make a wrong step, that look like a wrong step, that they may be dipped down, or they come back up, or someone has a flyer in the first season, then they struggle, then the manager changes, like, that is such a good point, because I think, you know what I'm saying, the options are endless. There's also so few right choices. Like, if you think about how few teams in football can truly dominate, and yet at the same time, you see teams all the time, you think they might have an unbelievable season, and it's so much about sliding doors, that you choose the right time. - And you're also like, is she going, where she going? - Where should we go? - Like, everyone's like, like, do you know how many people ask me where Alexia was going? I was like, I don't know, like Alexia don't ask me, they're like, over, is she going to London City, and I'm like, maybe. - But what I will say is, once again, you moved first. You're the trendsetter. - Yeah, seems that way. - Well, you made the move to Liam, made the move to Barça. - And then I'll leave and just leave. - Came back to the door and suddenly, this is in flux of copycat. - That's what I mean, like, I'm quite like, I'm very thoughtful with my decisions that I've made, and very like, headstrong to be like, no one's telling me that I made a wrong decision. Like, even if it potentially isn't the perfect thing in that moment, I will make it the best that it can be. I will make the most of the opportunity, whether that's me becoming a better player, a better person, winning trophies, learning languages, like, I'll make the situation, but what it is, I think, sometimes people forget like, you don't just go to a club for like one reason. Like, there's many reasons you can go and there's many things that you can evolve from being in different places. - Well, and that's the choice as well, right? Because you can get any environment you go into, you can make the decision to let the environment impact you, or you dreamt of that the environment. So I guess the fact that you've come to Chelsea and the fact that you've decided to stay here suggests that you feel you can have an even greater impact. - Yeah, especially this year, like, is actually a weird place to come in my first year at Chelsea, be in such an established player and like, well known. I remember with Vika, who we were both joined at the same time, and she asked me, where like, the physio room was or something, and I was like, we have got here at the same time. - That's right. - Like, give me a second to like get my bearings as well before I then start telling people what to do and stuff. Whereas yeah, like now I'm obviously one the oldest in the team and there's a lot of young players. So I found like a really good role in a club that I'm comfortable with with coaches and things that I'm comfortable with. Like, I feel like home in England, I feel at home in the area and things like, I'm so settled that it just felt like, maybe not the right time to go off jet set and again, when there's a little cup next year. - You say that, but you spent the summer jet setting. - Oh yeah, I got it in a different way. - You literally crammed it on it. This time last year we did like your perfect day off, and do you remember we did like, I don't remember what I said though. - We did like amazing meals, some great wine, jumping about between like Spain and all the other places. - How did you do that? - Anyway, this summer, you just did it over the course of a long period. - No, I think I did more than what people actually saw. - So go on, run us through it. - Well actually, Linus's our last game was in Liverpool. And then the next day went down to Plymouth and did like, like there was like a girl's soccer school on. - Nice. - Then the next day I went to Sandrapaniya, the goalkeeper, who's just signed in America, who's my friend from Basa, went to her wedding in Alicante. - Oh wow, nice. Then I flew to Columbia to Bogota, did a whole day with refugees there, incredible. - That. - To me that. - Like when I'm telling people the experience, like you can't get it from a photo, like it was insane. Like it was the best day that I spent, it was the most tiring like mentally, but it was amazing. Like what these kids just make the most of every fun. And there's a really great one because me and Nate were both injured at the end of the season. So we were training together before the break, all the older girls did the sevens. And Nate had loads of Chelsea shirts and she was like, "Oh, I don't know what to do with them all." And I said, "Oh, I'm going to refugees, "like, the architects from New York was with me." And there was this little girl who's in like, the streets of Bogota, the streets are like, we had to get permission to be on the street. - Yeah, tough. - Permission from like, the head of, oh wow. - Like, yeah. So there's this girl who's a refugee. She plays on this team with all the boys, and like they don't really play in competitions, but they do like little sessions, and they get together on like this terrible little pitch in the middle of the city with like, all sorts going on around them. And she's the only girl, and they were like, she's the captain of the team. So then we were giving out clothes, and I was like, "I got something for you." I was like, "This is Naomi Gurman's shirt, "whose parents are refugees." - Oh wow. - Which obviously I know, 'cause Nate told me the whole story. And I was like, "She's the captain of America," which I know she's technically not what she's won of. So I was like, "This could be you, and this girl's face." And I told Nate the story. I was like, "It was amazing." - Oh, how unbelievably rewarding as well. - Yeah, this little girl's captain of her team, refugees. And I have just given the USA's captain shirt, showed her pitches were aware in it, who's also has her parents are refugees. I'm like, "You can be that." - Yeah. - Like, "You've got something to like." - Oh, I was so incredible. - That was like, so cool. Did you come away, I know that would have been the best feeling in the world. Did you come away feeling like you'd given a lot? - I felt like I didn't give a no. - Really? - Yeah. I was just like, I don't know what else to do. - Will you go back? - Yeah, I hope so. I hope so. I love Colombia as a country as well. Myra, she lives not far from where I was. And I've got a soft soft for the Colombian accent. I don't know, I've got Spanish accents down here. Then we've got like Argentina, Mexican and Colombian things. - My aunt is Colombian. - Puerto Rican and even when she speaks English. Like the most gorgeous energy. - Yeah. - And the way that she speaks. - Like absolutely, yeah. - Amazing. Lucy, I'm like, I'll tell you what. - Yeah, I'll tell you what. - I'll tell you what. Talk to you all day. So I got a scoochie once. I got two very important questions to kind of get to you before we finish up. Very well, we've got a wild Lauren James waiting in the background as well. I will never ever say the R word to you. And you know that I won't because-- - Well, that rewind, that's it. But I like purely because I'm really, I'm right there with you in the whole drag me off the pitch before anything else. And I'll be mortified the day that we have to say that word. Would it be in a world cup, yeah? Does that play a part in any of your thinking, any of your decision making, choosing to be here at Chelsea at such a prominent team? - Yeah, I mean, yeah, choosing to be here with some of the most influential England players are in the Chelsea team, not moving because even moving and having a resetter, that's a process and it gets harder like the older that you get, like on your body. So that definitely was like a thought process. And everybody knows that playing for England means the world to me and the world cup especially is like every-- - In the Chelsea world as well. - Yeah, like every experience I've had at a world cup just been like phenomenal, it's been the best moments of my career. So yeah, it was like, I tend to be very like, take things one step at a time, I have my whole career and what's next and the world cup was there and I just want to be part of it. I want to win it with Ferry England. - Yeah, that's the box you've got to take. - That's the one. - Yeah. - Final question. If Lauren James is the answer, what is the question? Who tries to annoy me the most every day? Yeah, you won't think it but yeah Chris tries to annoy me all Lucy Thank you so much. Thank you. Great to be back. Thank you LJ right I Have noticed you're dominating the media scene today and George really funny is that there's like I would have said in the past maybe these weren't the most fun days in the world Yeah, you're bossing it now. Grown up I remember I think it's the first time we've had you solo on the pod because we had to have Lucy before Are you enjoying this a little bit more now? Yeah, I think I'll come up my show with more have you yeah, so I think it makes days like this a lot easier When do you think that happened or is it just been a progression over time? I think just to progression over time because I'm a bit of a close book Be can't tell I would never Don't really give much away. I still am a bit like that, but I think Over the years it's nice to show Who I actually am yeah 100% and also like you're such do you know what you're such an expressive player on the pitch? I think naturally people just think oh you must have like so much to say and so much do you want to share off the pitch So that I guess over the course of that is just one of those things natural happening in your career Right as you just start to choose what you want to share what you want to engage on might get easier as well as you go Yeah, feel easier now. Yeah, it feels I think before I mean I'm sweating now, but before I actually generally be sweating because I'm nervous or it is I should point out for anyone that's watching this in my distances It is boiling in here. It's the fan so So hot in here and like that is the other reason for me being so unbelievably clammy I'm not just crazy nervous to be talking to you tell me how was your season last season? Where'd you rank it in your kind of all-time? Personally on a personal level Well, probably a not a flight obviously despite where we finished and the lack of trophies personally, I think From Christmas onwards I had I thought I played really well. I was gonna say it second half to the season You know I got played a season for Chelsea. So I Guess I can't deny I didn't have a good season. You had a really good season. Yeah Favorite goal favorite goal. Maybe my free kick against I think it was lester away Good for you. Yeah, well you had two choices in that game didn't you? Yeah, two really good goals in that game Go my free kick. Yeah, but like do you know what? I think it's natural in in a in a season where a club like Chelsea They were so you see them winning all the time Maybe doesn't hit the heights that we're we're so used to I suppose naturally people won't talk about it as much But you were quietly going about about business in your own way Was there anything you were doing off the pitch differently? No, I think that's just how I like to roll I just like to go about my business and yeah, so one thing that stood out to me Is if we take that game against Lester Where you've scored twice in that game and then could have had a hat trick and Everything was going forward and then you take the Game against Spain at Wembley where you were doing a lot of work going back the other way I thought it really stood out the fact that you have both facets to your game and Obviously we talk about you as a forward player a lot But do you think people are starting to recognize the fact that you do a lot going the other way as well? Yeah, I think definitely over like the last two two years. I think I think that's probably the one area that I've improved the most Then it's helping my team Obviously defend the goal as well as helping the team score a goal Yeah, I just think that comes into Improvement of mindset has Sonia worked on that with you in any way. Have you like or is it something that you've just I mean I must say yeah, she's Sonia's demanding so that's probably helped But yeah, it's only making me better so I'm happy that she's demanding to me to everybody summer. How was it? Amazing I think we've never had that time off in a long time So to get around six weeks here. She was really nice to stop for three weeks I never normally do that so I must have needed it. Do you feel better for it? Yeah, I think bodywise and Mentales it's a good thing to do. I went away to Tuxton K. Kos which was lovely and then I went headed out to America I went to LA I went to Miami then to Atlanta. So did you follow England everywhere? I followed England from Miami to Atlanta because I watched the quarters in the semis. Did you watch in the friends and family section? Yeah Did you get a new understanding of how unbelievably nerve-wracking it is in those late-stage games? Yeah, it's crazy and obviously I don't really sit in those areas usually Usually in a posh box Oh, I'm on the pitch. So that was a new experience Did you like it? Yeah, it was cool. It's different. I feel what the fans feel you like sometimes as a play You don't really feel what the fans are feeling or families watching you're trying to kick every ball Yeah, it's interesting and also it must be the thing that always felt really funny when you look up at their friends and family sections you can see That you can pick out the families from mile off. Yeah, because everyone's got the names on the back of it Because I was trying to walk through cows and not telling everyone First time sister who was also there with me We're not putting Reese's name on the back. We're just England bad and let's keep moving We're sticking up in the stands Put up no one's recognised us But everyone else you could sit because everyone like you can literally see everyone's jeans Can't you see everyone's kind of like you know who's with who because they've all got the names 100% But when you're in that that extra tension must be Kind of wild because it means look you're still England fans, but you've also got that element of like oh my god I want my my family to do well. Yeah for sure. I think also like when you've got Obviously your relatives shirt on the back people Good or bad they might look they're always going to look your way because you're obviously the relative So yeah, I guess it's It's not racking. It's good to obviously if the The boys do really well But obviously when things aren't going well It's like oh no it's it's so and so yeah Some will make some mistake you'll sort of like oh can't say anything And but a massive surge of pride watching watching them Yeah huge and obviously it was Reese's first world cup so I'm happy you got to experience that um tell me a little bit about what you want to do when you're off the pitch And you've got the six weeks that gets you to feel like you again. You spend so much of your life at this place What do you do to get you back to feeling like you? I get out of London to start Good decision because I mean I love London, but when I feel when I'm in London, I feel like I'm going to training So as soon as I'm done I like to get out Get to hot weather chill my friends I'm a music girl so I've always got music playing and that helps me chill out. Did you go and see any music this summer? I actually didn't I wanted to go to Afro nation, but I went to America. You did you did right You had a pretty good setup. You did fairly well and and then in terms of coming back physicality wise You said you you feel good. How's the body? Feel good getting back into it again first two days Body couldn't get out of bed brutal yeah hips They just weren't saying hello to me But yeah now I'm starting to Have you got a chance to build up the excitement to play again? I think games and I'm always excited. It's like I don't always show it, but deep down I love playing games training a different story I can totally agree that particularly in this heat And okay, find a thing that I must ask you before we let you go If Kira wall she could is the answer we've got her next what would be the question? Who's not as serious as she looks? Great answer. I love that. Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope that it's not as long as it looks like it's about to be for you because about 38 degrees in here Yeah, I love um look forward to watching the season make thanks for joining us. Cheers. Cheers buddy On BBC sounds You're welcome back to the pod after a full start should you say for the audience? I started this interview about 30 seconds ago, but we weren't recording it top pro's only welcome back Thank you. Thanks for having me again. An absolute pleasure. Um you have had some summer. Yeah, it's been all right to be fair Is that I said it's not really an excitable person am I to know what I mean? You're kidding. What um No actually I'm not kidding no Because we just asked we just asked Lauren James we said if Kira wall she's the answer what is the question and she said someone who is fine less serious than they pretend to be. - Yeah, is that a secret though? I'm not sure. (laughs) I mean, I'm always messing around. Well, that's not a positive thing. - It's just not exciting at all. - Yeah, like I'm not like screaming around and like, you know. - Tell me about, so I think I saw from your social media three holidays this summer, or three trips. - Yeah. - So Marbella? - Yeah, that was, yeah, okay. - Was that not technically okay? - Yeah, I was like a weekend away with the girl. So we come with a girl. - That was a weekend. You, honestly, you've moved up in the world. That's just a weekend away. - Come along with her, much better. (laughs) - Okay, what was the, what was the for then? - To Beether. - Nice. - Austria. - Very cool. - New York. - Okay, if you had to use a word to sum up each of those trips, what would it be? - It'd be there. Bad weather. - What? - Yeah, it wasn't sunny at our warm at all. - You're kidding. - Yeah. - Did you still manage to get on, have a good party? - Yeah, so you know I might do some things. (laughs) - Yeah, it was still like an unbelievable trip and like great experience to like do those things with my friends, but. - You look like a head fan. - It would have been nice if the weather was better. - Okay, and then America? - Surprisingly very good. Well, I've just heard like New York's a bit dirty and it's got like a smell to it. That's what people say, right? And it just didn't. I was pleasantly very surprised. (laughs) - The whole of New York. - I should've been a smell. - No, it doesn't. And pleasantly, very clean. And a bit well hot. - It wasn't, it was raining. - This is a disaster. - Yeah, I feel like the bad weather just followed up. - It was three around. The weather was okay. It did rain a little bit as well. - But as a holiday? - Relaxing. - Okay, so someone was fine. Someone was just fine. - I actually had a very good summer. It sounds like an in-budded. - It's really really well. - I just like to play it down, you know? - Well, and also because you've had a bit of time, which is lovely. I am really intrigued to know that having had such a busy kind of, we're recording this, what a day after the year, sort of I guess you would quite an anniversary of winning the Euro's again. You've had such a busy run. You've had such a busy period. What has been the thing that you've been most excited to do when you've had this break? - I think just have like more consistent time to like actually properly chill out and like decompress. I think like it's impossible to decompress when in a week you've got to go back to your season or like even after the season. You've got a week to get ready for a tournament. So probably just that. And I think in general, like just having the opportunity to like when you train into like, especially in the gym, like really focus on the things you need to get a better out like it's nice to not have a schedule and train when you want. And yeah, I think probably just not having to be there at a certain time, be here, be there. I think yeah, just relax a little bit more. - Shimi also had extra time to catch up with your friends. We saw George and Yvonne there. - Yeah, that probably should have been said actually. - Just sitting there somewhere. - That is so much fun. (laughing) - Never mind. - We got to enjoy the other day. And she said that she, the been up and down plenty to make sure. - Yeah, we went to Tunis wedding together actually. We drove from London, that was nice. - And have you forgiven her for joining what might be deemed as the wrong side of London? - Yeah. - Yeah. - Just nice to have her about the place. - Yeah, I mean, I'm going watching Greece Lightning with her tomorrow. (laughing) - Yeah. - We're going to be fairly the other day. I went to hers, we had a little sleep over. We went to Sona Rina and it's went to a farm shop. That was so, how was that? - That was so, how was that? - And then you got Greece. - And now when it's my turn, we're going to sort my water up the house. (laughing) She's good at that, no, she's good at those things. - Organized. - She'll like, she will happily throw my clothes away and I need that. So we're going to sort my water up. - Are you a holder? - No, no, I am a shopper. - Okay. - I'm a shopper, I'm not a hoarder, I'm a shopper. - So you just have a lot of stuff, and then stuff you will never wear again. - I always like, I want to be a minimalist, but it's just not in my nature. So George's going to help me. - She is coming into basically clear everything out for you. - Yeah, and then we're going to go into the city, have a day in the city and then we're going to go to Greece because it's outside at Battersea Park. - This is, I tell you what, this is a lovely thing in your life that I mean, do you remember when we spoke, she was maybe going about three, four years and you were like, we just don't ever catch up. And then occasionally one of you would fly to the other country. - She's a bit of a flake, like she's known for being a flake. That's her thing. Especially when it comes to going on holiday together. - What's your just, she's just a flake, she just fails last minute. - So is there a possibility that you might be going on your own to watch Greece? - No, like day to day plans, she's very, very good. - But like big stuff. - Big stuff. - On the horizon. - Ask her next time you see her in the movie. - I wish we'd done this in the movie before that. - She don't look to it, I think she don't look to it. - Loads of ammo to go out there. Which talk about football? Because that is what we're here to talk about. Probably the first time in your career I'd imagine, where you are now playing for a team, with the exception of Mancy. If you're now playing for a team that's going to be chasing, it's going to be a team that's going after everyone else as opposed to the team that everyone wants to try. - Yeah, but I prefer that, you know. - Oh, okay, go on. - I don't know, I think it's like more of a nice immense, I think it's a nice mentality to have, to be the one that's chasing, to be the one that's putting the pressure on. I think it's probably not something that Chelsea have been used to, so I'm excited to see how it goes this season. But I think like, obviously we've not been in very long. Yeah, I think already, it's really good vibes and everyone's bringing lots of energy. So I think it's nice to maybe have a bit of a shift in mentality sometimes. - It keeps it fresh as well. - Absolutely. - Is this the first time in your career that you've done Champions League qualifying? - No. - Did you do it with City? - Well, yeah, but I was injured, so I never actually did it. So we had to do it two years in a row, and both times I was injured. So technically, no, I haven't done it before. - But you're becoming in as, I guess, a team that expects to be going far in the competition. And at the same time, coming at this point with the season starting earlier, I mean, does that have any impact on your buildup in terms of the way that you look at the season, in terms of the way that you look at trying to peak at the right time? - To be honest with you, I'm not really thought about it. I think we just trust the people, like the sports scientists and everyone to get us in the best shape. And I think they're obviously very, very good at that. So I guess as players, we just trust them to do that. But I think it would be unrealistic to think that we're going to peak in these games. I think if any of the fans are watching and others players, we're very aware that this isn't going to be our best game. - It's not the time to peak. I think when the season starts, you hit the ground running and you've got games coming thinking fast, that's really when you want to be peaking. But yeah, we know we've got a job to do. We're clearing our intentions for the season. We're clearing our objectives. So yeah, I think we're in a good place. - It definitely helps focus everyone else's mind, I guess, on just how strong the league is. The fact that a side like Chelsea's going through qualifying, someone that for all of us, so used to watching Chelsea win, suddenly you're in qualifying. And then you think outside of that, this season, you'd imagine there'll be another three, four teams that are really able to do it. - Yeah, like a lot of the city are looking strong to be fair. Like they're going to have a really, really good start in the 11th, Tottenham, Tottenham Play Good Football. I mean, it's an exciting year to be a part of like the league. I think when I first started and league like 12 years ago, like this is where you wanted it to be, right? Like obviously you want to win trophies every single year. Like that's the aim. But I think if you look at the bigger picture, I think to be a part of this and to be English and this is our league where the best plays in the world want to come and play, like it's really exciting. - Nice to see some of your powers come either. - Yeah, definitely. I'm going for dinner with Alexia tonight, so. - Is that Potter or Pateus? Obviously both Tidey, Clepre importance. - Pateus, Pateus. I do call her Alexia sometimes. She's like, shut up, shut up. No, Alexia, Jana, yeah, we're going for dinner. - That's lovely. - Yeah. - It's, again, I'm just looking from the outside, seeing that influx of players. - Yeah. - Is it kind of crazy when you consider where the league was before? Have you watched it all unfold this summer? I mean, I guess you kind of would have known people were coming before. - Yeah, a little bit, a little bit. But I think it's also nice just to have good people in the league as well. They're all incredible people, incredible professionals. And yeah, like I'm excited to see how it goes. - How do you think it, this is, I can't get my head around it. How do you think it is going to go this season? If you particularly look at London City, you think you've played so much with those players. Will there you have an impact straight away? - I mean, I'd be surprised if they didn't. Like I think especially like Alexia and Mappy, like they're both so smart. And two of the best like thinkers of football that I've played with. So for me, it would be surprising. Like maybe you're not going to see an instant impact in terms of like goals and assists, but in terms of like getting the team taking, getting the team playing good football and seeing the spaces for everyone else. Like 100% they're going to have, that'll be almost instantaneous, I would think. - And what about for you personally, what will be the ambitions for this season? You mentioned before that it's very clear what everyone wants to do. What is the kind of overarching name for the squad? - I think just kind of get back to winning ways. I think obviously Chelsea haven't been used to like not being at the top. So again, like I said to you, it's refreshing to have a different mentality. It's exciting. I've obviously brought in some new players, really good players. You can kind of already see what they're bringing to the team. So yeah, I think like it's, we're in a good place. It's a good place to be in. Just looking forward to yeah, they'll open a matchday really. - Amazing, well look, have a wonderful time. - Thank you. - Very finally, before we let you go, next up on our pod will be Kate and McCabe. - That's a good one, that. I would probably say who's the fiestiest player in the league, so be honest. - I think that's like I would not deny that. I think that is absolutely bang on. - Yeah. - Good answer, perfect. Kerry Walsh, thanks so much. - Thank you, it's been a pleasure. - We will find out about how that dinner went later on in the season. Actually, we're gonna find out in a couple of days time 'cause we'll be popping down to London City Lionesses for their media day as well. But we will be back to visit Chelsea and Arsenal to see how Greece was for Kira and for Georgia and whether Georgia turned up. But let's now say welcome to the pod, one of Chelsea's newest signings. And for the first time in a blue shirt, Kating with K. - This is different, huh? - Very different. - It's nice though, isn't it? - Yeah, I think it looks great. (laughs) How'd it feel? - Yeah, good. Honestly, since coming in, meeting the team, the staff, everyone around the train and ground, they've been really welcoming. - It is Jarin. I'll say that just talking to you now. It's Jarin, my mind a little bit. - Really? - It's a bit weird. - We're not a first person that I've said in my mind. - People said that to you. - A lot of people have said that to me. - That, like, you can't blame them, right? - Listen, it was a long time. So it is gonna look different. But I think people will get used to it pretty quickly. - Yeah, absolutely. - After a few games, maybe. - Once you sort of, like, the thing is, for as long as I can sort of remember, I think about, you're just synonymous with that Arsenal shirt, right? So you've got to kind of rewire, building new legacy here, start again. And I know you wouldn't ever, you would never make a decision without knowing that it was the right thing for you, for your family, for where you wanna be and where you wanna go forward. But can you give me, I don't know, the thought process that goes on when you're making a decision to come to, not just a huge crowd back Chelsea, but also a big rival of a club like Arsenal? - Yeah, I think, obviously, when you're coming into the last year, your contract, it's a little bit different, obviously, with women's and men's football. I think the club's tend to let you go into your last year. So I think, obviously, naturally, discussions happened. And, yeah, for me, it was clear that it was time, obviously, starting a new chapter. And I think, understanding what I wanted to do, knowing how I feel, my age, it was time for me to make that next step, but also not drop a level. And I think Chelsea have been such a winning team over the last few years. You can see how they play the mentality. And for me, it was important to maintain the level I was at in terms of competing for massive trophies, league, FA Cup, Champions League, because I still feel like I have a lot to give, you know? And I think having conversations with Sonya, we were aligned on a lot of things, and, yeah, it happened. - How would you describe your conversations with her? I mean, I'll tell you from our point of view, anytime you come away from a conversation with Sonya, I feel like I come away with my head full of stuff, that I want to go and ask more, and learn more, and hear more, what's it like as a player? - Yeah, look, from me, I have a lot of respect for Sonya, even obviously before all this kind of happened. I think she's played at the highest level, won so many trophies, and then been at a manager and managed at the highest level, won Champions League. So I've got a lot of respect for Sonya. She also played left back, she's left-sided as well, so the similarities there. But I think for me, in the early conversations I had with Sonya, we had a common understanding of where she wanted to take the club, and the expectations she has on me in order to help us get there. - Yeah, I think for both of us it was the right thing. And yeah, honestly, I feel really lucky to be part of such an amazing group, such talent as well, and I think building off what they had last season, going into this season is going to be important, and maintaining our win and mentality. - I think a big thing for us, or people in the media watching on, wherever they'd like, partly just delighted that you're staying in the league. - Yeah, it is well. - Because I think there would be options for you to, if you wanted to, I mean, most clubs in the world have been lucky to have you. So I assume there would have been options to go elsewhere. - Yeah, and listen, for me, I needed to understand what was important for me, and that's to compete in the best league possible, and for me that's the WSL. And I think you can see that in the amount of quality that other teams are bringing in as well. Like, we've got world-class players coming to the league, wanting to be part of it, and I think the league just keeps getting better and better. I'm more competitive, I think this season will probably be the most competitive season. When you look at how other teams are strengthening. And I'm actually, like, from me, having started in the league, 10, 11 years ago, to where it's at now, I love that club's important in money to help the women's teams. And you've got investors coming in, buying clubs, trying to bring in players, trying to better facilities, trying to better the conditions, the stadiums. That's what you want. Don't see it as a negative at all. I just think it makes everyone else step up the game as well, or else you'll be left behind. You've got two interesting narratives of Chelsea, I suppose, this season, and all of those clubs that have gone out and invested that are maybe not in the traditional top three, top four. They're all going to be chasing. And for Chelsea at the same time, there's chasing to do at the top of the table too. I suppose for someone like you that is over-competitive, there's pretty much how you would love it, right? Yeah, for sure. I think, yeah, it's going to be an interesting one this year, especially obviously because Man City won the league last year, and I know obviously how that some of the girls felt off the back of that season. They want to be back on top, and for me, I'm just excited to be here, and I'm ready to work and bring what I can bring to the team, and try to get us back up there again while also challenging for the FA Cup and the Champions League as well. So yeah, there's been a lot of conversations, obviously, preseason ambitions and our targets, and I think, yeah, so far it's been amazing. I think I've really enjoyed it. The girls have been amazing since I've come in. So yeah, and I've been good. Watching games, nothing brings me more joy, I would say, than watching you at your most competitive best. Like when you give absolutely everything to a game, like I can do player come on you for 90 minutes and get so much from it. I wondered, will you be the same player here at Chelsea, or will we be doing slight personal rebrand, or is it very much Katie McCabe as you were? Yeah, I think that's what the club and Sonja have seen in me. Obviously, I've been on the opposition for them over the last few years, and they've seen that, and I think they want me to embrace that part of my game, and I've changed that because, yeah, I've gotten in edge to my game, probably because I've been playing for so long, but I think that's who I am, and I think if you remove that, I'm not Katie McCabe, you know? So, yeah, they're fully supportive of me being the high energy ready to win, and do it all for the team, and I think I've always kind of said, I wear my hat and my sleeve, and I'm playing football, and I think, yeah, I'm definitely not going to change that this season. I'm very glad to hear. Well, that's like, I can't change. That's why they would assigned you, right? Yeah, you absolutely know what you're getting, but I did think when you said in your welcome video, please don't hate me, or something like that. I thought, maybe we need to do some like PR or something. No, we'll go and make a video of you helping old people across the street around that puppy and stuff. No, it was more like, yeah, I know the thing you're talking about, and it was a performance interview at Stanford Bridge. I was a bit of tongue in cheek to the fans, I guess, because obviously I've been the rival for so long, so you're coming over to the other side, so I think for me, I'm excited to, yeah, obviously get that relationship gone with the fans. And show them what I'm about and what I can bring to the team. I'm so hopefully they see it over. I have absolutely no doubt that will be crazy quick, because there are always those players that when they're in your team, you adore every single thing that they do. But when they're on the opposition, you kind of have that healthy sort of, I want to say disrespect to them, do you not? I mean, who did you tell when you were coming here? Because I remember so vividly, you and I have a long conversation about Emma Bern basically being like your hero, and having seen so much of her with Arsenal. Did you speak to her at all? Yeah, I did. I've obviously got my close circle of people around me that understand my thought processes and where I'm at in my career. Obviously, Arsenal and then obviously moving on. So I think having those close group of people around me, obviously Emma Bern being one of them, her expertise in the game, and her experience and everything she's done in the game. Of course, I'm going to pick her brains on one of the biggest moves of my career. And for me, I think, yeah, she's always a great sound aboard and we've had many conversations. And yeah, she was just as delighted as I was to get the move done. What about the McCabe clan? What about the family? They were buzzing it. They said they'll support me wherever I go. Obviously helps that couple of my family, our Chelsea fans, and a couple of my nephews as well. So yeah, that was a very popular honestly. Yeah, very popular decision. And they're delighted to come stand for a bridge next season. Can you tell me a little bit about personal aims for you? Because I've been over the last few seasons. You've lived a few seasons. You've ticked off some crazy career aspirations that you would have had. How'd you stay driven to go and tick the next thing off? And what is that for you now? I love winning. And I love being part of the journey in being in the trenches with people trying to get there. And I think maybe that's the Irish in me. But I think I just love having to roll up the sleeves and really graph or something. And now this team has full of graphers as well, even like Aaron Cuthbert and that, like I'm sorry, sorry to get playing with her. So yeah, now for me, it's to understand, obviously, what's important for Chelsea, which is to get back to the top and when in the biggest trophies and achieving something they've E加入d o signodd 18 heb yr â a yw'n entiad muig yn felly aforegged indoor i wedi fel legwlaweros. wneud iyllt rhwngdd am y rhwngdd am sut pat ol'io yr anadnos gwneud痛. Mae'r ll Owen Maeth mae hynny bydeg i'n twerp i gwleimda. Mae'n myd diomwn ni'n eiநir gwlad yma yrdeактиolio of yma chinters, ffelly, am ein beth yna, hyn gweld, wneud dwi'n ylwng, fe hefyd eil. mynd d OpDDy ast wedi eraith gfin fe blant yn cyheartedw💚 Mynnag iawn gwwyr gwyn rydw maenawoddiycio Ryannau banu i sic eisiau caredrawer unig a wnaelly'n gy至id hyn yn yrm strategas i fod peth yng Nghy 2005 mic ar ymreil llakio ni licu bod e veryng wnaedd cymdarig oedd yna gan Іlbror Austral o g toeundol gwahanol a f fuerte mwbgras yn yr onn eithau goratop. 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Felly, ymwbgras yn yr unig. different scenarios where I've been in clubs where sometimes the squad we had a lot of players in terms of numbers and quality and it's difficult when it's the case to keep everyone happy and sometimes when you have really good players not being happy it can affect the dynamic and the co-asiveness in the team so I think it's quite important for us to find the right numbers and we looked at it in terms of having players who can be versatile and they can play many positions in order for us to maybe not have high numbers but have maybe less players trying to keep everyone happy which is a difficult thing to do but making sure everyone gets minutes everyone understands they can bring an impact into the team and into the club for us to try to achieve what we want to achieve and yet try to find this co-asiveness into the squad and the team. Okay so that's really interesting as a coach you would rather have say a player that could play multiple positions than to go out and be like right we need two players in every single position it's better for you to have perhaps slightly fewer but more malleable players, more flexible players. Yeah I think I would go rather for that option to bring players who are versatile, more flexible and can play different positions I think it's important from my experience again I've been in some of the clubs where sometimes some players were not getting minutes. Well my head went to Leon right I mean the amount of times that Leon where you've had both playing and as a coach and enormous squad of elite level players that probably at times are getting quite frustrated. Yeah and that's normal for them to be frustrated and even in my first season in Chelsea I think the squad was big and it's difficult for you to give minutes to everyone and as much as you want to consider the players and the person sometimes yeah when you have too many players it's difficult to find the right balance so I think from my experience yeah I think it's quite important to have this flexibility in the squad in order for you to not go too high numbers and keep try again to keep everyone happy and I think when you compete in Chelsea you have many competitions and you have really important games so it's good for everyone to contribute and to feel like they are having an impact for the team for the club. You mentioned there about leaders who is your unless I've missed it who's your leadership group now? So I haven't decided yet on my leadership group and my captain's. And the one coming. So we are making those decisions together so it's really important for me to get some feedback from the players obviously I'm the one who make the final decision and that's important to play. Exactly and that's important for me for the players to be involved to have this input into those big decisions because I think these decisions will impact what we are going to achieve in the season. Do you ever get feedback from players that surprises you around leaders or do you feel like you have a good steer on who the leaders already are? I think that's probably one of my strengths. I really know my players individually but also I understand like my group and the leaders I have in my group but yeah I always give the opportunity to my players to come to me and have conversations around everything often on the pitch and I'm not really yeah I've never been like really surprised about something because I'm someone who is open minded and yeah I know in those conversations everything can be brought into the table so yeah and I'm confident like we can have those conversations and approach every subject without me being surprising and that's like the relationship I want to have with my players I want to give them the opportunity to be brave to come to me and mention anything they want to mention because at the end of the day we are together and we want to make sure the players understand my job and the staff job is to make sure we support them the best way possible in order for them to perform at their best level on the pitch. Just one final question Sonja I must get you away from the football. One of the things that I adored last season come rain or shine. It was almost inevitable that there would be a picture pop up on social media of you on your bikes with your family if you're cycling to a game or going to do something fun away from football and can you tell me why that brings you joy and why you feel like it's a good thing to do with your family. Yeah just because there are simple things to do in life and I'm a normal person I'm a new man and I think like for me biking in London I mentally relax when I'm doing that as well as I'm doing my sport and I'm enjoying the city. So I think for me when I have the opportunity to bike in London as an individual myself but also with my family we love to do that and yeah already went for a lot of miles with my family and we really enjoyed that. So again I think being a normal person I think it's quite simple things to do in life and I really enjoy being simple. And particularly with this weather as well you've got to make the most of it. Exactly. Sonja it's been such a pleasure thanks so much for almost giving us. Some transfer updates. Later baby. Thank you so much. The wonderful Sonja Bumpestor there being just as brilliant to listen to as she always is at this point in the season. There's one question that I didn't ask her right at the end and I think that is because it's almost a waste of time because you know the answer and that is the Champions League. It's very much going to be on the radar for this group of players. When you look around today, everywhere you look and this is probably the case at Arsenal and the case at Man City as well but everywhere that you look there are elite level players and there are players with the experience of winning the Champions League. They've had a Cate in the Cate who obviously has that experience now as well having won it with Arsenal and you'd imagine that even though Chelsea need to find a way back to the top of the WSL that little glint of the Champions League diamond will be just sitting somewhere catching Sonja Bumpestor's eye and even though she is calm as ever, there will be a frustration there from last season that Chelsea didn't hit the heights that they have previously. It remains to be seen whether they'll do it this time around with the league being more competitive than it's ever been as so many people mentioned today. That is where we're going to leave it at Cobham. I think we are literally the last people out which is becoming a recurring theme with the Wims football week here at the moment. And I think at this point you've probably had enough of my voice. So I'm going to go and get some sun somewhere and I'm going to hand the Wimins football weekly bat on over to TV's Joe Curry who's going to bring you all things from Manchester United. So look out for that next on your feed. If you haven't subscribed you know what to do. Get on with it immediately and make sure that you never miss an episode. See you one next time. [Music] [Music] [BLANK_AUDIO]