Millie Bright broke down her thoughts on the first fixture in the Champions League for Chelsea.
The Blues travelled to the Netherlands to play against Twente, an opponent that they had defeated 6-1 and 3-1 in their two group stage contests in the 2024/25 season. But there would be disappointment on this occasion for the English outfit as they drew 1-1, needing a Sandy Baltimore penalty to equalise.
It was far from an ideal start to the continental campaign for a camp that are looking to get their hands on the trophy for the first time. However, sides typically evolve as the weeks go along, and with the new format for the tournament involving a league phase, there is no reason to be worried immediately.
“I think upon reflection, we see it as a point gain, not two points lost. I think in the new format, it's important to be patient and to stay two feet on the ground. I think it's important to remain grounded.
“Every point matters. So, for us, of course, we wanted to go out and win that game. We wanted to start in a better way, but I don't think it's the end of the world that that we drew that game. Our mentality is to win and to be the best team. Of course, it is.
*“We didn't really need to do much rallying. I think we got straight back out on the training pitch. The girls showed a great response and, you know, that started with the game against Tottenham. So, I think a brilliant bounce back from that and yeah, looking to take that momentum into the game.*
“Everyone's excited to be back with an opportunity to play in the Champions League again.
“Saying it’s a good point is not us saying we didn't want to win that game and our ambitions are not to be better. But I think with the layout of the new format, you can't get too low in the lows and too high in the highs. You have to stay level-headed.
“I think it's more having that mentality to say that it wasn’t what we wanted it to be, but it's still a point gained. It's a point on the board and the bounce back started with the game against Tottenham and keeping that momentum going into the next game. But going to be a challenge.
*“Every game is a challenge in football. Especially with the level that it's at now and especially in the Champions League. Now, it’s even harder to to win every single game, but we're in a really good place. We've got the right mentality and the right attitude and yeah, now it's about delivering.”*