The UEFA Women’s Champions League is more competitive than ever, and Chelsea stars Erin Cuthbert and Zecira Musovic are embracing the challenge. As the Blues prepare for two vital group stage matches against Scottish side Celtic, the duo spoke candidly about how the heightened level of play is pushing them to work harder and stay focused.
Cuthbert: Living Out Childhood Dreams
For midfielder Erin Cuthbert, playing in the Champions League is the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. “As a little girl, I dreamt of playing in the World Cup and the Champions League. That was just my thing growing up,” she revealed in an exclusive interview.
However, the 26-year-old Scot acknowledged that the tournament’s increasing unpredictability means Chelsea must be more focused than ever to secure wins. “I think it’s really exciting that other teams are now coming into it and it’s now sort of a more open tournament,” Cuthbert explained. “That only adds to the unpredictability. You have to be on it; you have to be alert.”
Staying Focused on the Task at Hand
Cuthbert emphasized the importance of staying grounded and concentrating on the immediate challenge, rather than looking too far ahead. “As soon as you start thinking about other rounds in the competition, then you don’t take care of business,” she warned, citing Chelsea’s group stage elimination in the 2021-22 season as a cautionary tale.
“I’ve been in the position before where we never got out of the group, with Wolfsburg in 2021. We were too busy thinking about winning it [rather than] let’s just win the group and be in an advantageous position come Christmas.”
– Erin Cuthbert on the importance of focusing on the present
Musovic: Elevated Standards Drive Success
Goalkeeper Zecira Musovic echoed her teammate’s sentiments, noting that the increased competition only serves to raise Chelsea’s own standards. “You have so many good teams around the whole of Europe that you can’t really go into a game and count on a win. You have to put in a really good performance if you want to get all three points,” the Swedish shot-stopper told reporters.
Musovic, who has started both of Chelsea’s Champions League matches thus far, believes that maintaining high standards in every aspect of their game will be key to the team’s success. “We have big ambitious and goals for this season. We want to go all the way. So once again, keeping the high standard in every possible way and in every game, and you never know really what to expect, but you can definitely expect a good game and a good opponent.”
Cuthbert Relishes Celtic Clash
For Cuthbert, the upcoming matches against Celtic hold special significance. The midfielder, who began her career with Glasgow rivals Rangers, is eager to secure two wins against her former foes. “Of course, I would love to beat them, especially being a fan of the rival team. Growing up and playing for Rangers for so many years, I’ve played against Celtic for so long,” she admitted.
Despite her personal rivalry, Cuthbert expressed pride in Celtic’s achievement of reaching the Champions League group stage. “I think to have a Scottish team in the Champions League is brilliant. I think it shows how far our game has come, how far we’ve grown, and it makes me proud to be Scottish to even play against a Scottish team in the Champions League.”
The Road Ahead for Chelsea
As Chelsea sit atop Group A with two wins from two matches, the road ahead looks promising. However, with the increased level of competition and the unpredictability of the tournament, Cuthbert and Musovic know that they cannot afford to let their guard down.
The Blues will need to be at their best when they travel to face Celtic on October 26th, before hosting the return fixture on November 20th. With six points on the line, these matches could prove pivotal in determining Chelsea’s fate in the competition.
Under the guidance of manager Emma Hayes, who has led the club to unprecedented success in recent years, Chelsea will be looking to go one step further than their runner-up finish in the 2020-21 Champions League. With stars like Cuthbert and Musovic embracing the challenge and the team’s unwavering focus on the task at hand, the Blues are well-positioned to make a deep run in this season’s tournament.
As the UEFA Women’s Champions League continues to grow in stature and competitiveness, Chelsea’s stars are ready to rise to the occasion. With their sights set on European glory, Erin Cuthbert, Zecira Musovic, and the rest of the Blues’ talented squad are poised to make their mark on the biggest stage in women’s club football.
