Nathalie Bjorn describes last season as a ‘rollercoaster of emotions’. After winning a domestic Treble with Chelsea, she went on to star at Euro 2025 with Sweden before suffering a tough exit from the competition against England.
Now, after a break with family and friends, our talented defender is looking forward to resuming club football and is eager to begin the campaign ahead with Chelsea.
Sitting down with us during our Netherlands training camp, Bjorn explains how the ability to recover from disappointment is a skill she’s had to develop.
‘I didn’t play that much at the beginning of last season, so that was new for me,’ says the defender. ‘I had to deal with those emotions and be ready when the chance came.
‘Something I learned is that there is not much time to dwell on things when you have a setback. You have to move past it quickly. When I was younger, I could sit and watch games a hundred times over, looking over every situation and every mistake.
‘I would sometimes take that into the next game and still be upset about it, but now I realise everyone makes mistakes. If you make one mistake, it doesn't define who you are as a footballer, but that's what I thought back then. The fact is that no one else will remember that mistake, it's only you who remembers.’
After reclaiming her place in the Chelsea side last season, Bjorn went on to make 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing an assist for good measure.
Her performances were recognised by her teammates, who voted the 28-year-old as their Player of the Season at the end of our domestic Treble-winning campaign. It is an honour Bjorn has held close to her heart.
‘Winning the Players' Player of the Year is a precious prize to win,’ she smiles. ‘I felt very honoured because these are people that you play with and see every day. I felt like I was growing throughout the whole season, both mentally and football-wise. Every training session and every game made me a little bit better.
'I grew a lot during, and when you build trust with the coaches, you play more minutes. You can then build on that confidence, and that makes you an even better footballer. I feel stronger mentally after last season. There were a lot of games in a short amount of time, and you need to be able to reset quickly after tough games and get into the groove again.’
Bjorn needed to dig deep into the resilience described when Sweden went from 2-0 up against England in the Euro 2025 quarter-final with just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining, to being knocked out on penalties.
The Blues defender was one of only two Sweden players to score her spot-kick in the shoot-out, with club team-mate [Johanna Rytting Kaneryd](/en/teams/profile/johanna-rytting-kaneryd) having already been substituted.
It was perhaps the most painful way possible to exit the competition, but Bjorn relied on the relationship with her best friend and her family to help her recover.
‘I think we played the best football that we've ever played together,’ she continues. ‘We had so much belief in this tournament, and it felt like everything just clicked together. Looking back, it was an emotional rollercoaster. It still stings a little bit – I think it always will do – but I'm proud of the way we showed up at the Euros.
‘Jojo \[Rytting Kaneryd\] has been a best friend for a very long time. It's unique to be able to play with each other and see each other every day. Sometimes we say maybe we spend too much together! It helps to have someone in the team you know outside football, who knows you in and out.
‘If you have a bad day or if you are going through something, you always have each other, and it's like a safety net having her here. You can always be honest with each other and find different solutions together.
‘I surrounded myself with family, my girlfriend, and my friends after the tournament. It was a long season with a lot of big moments, heartache and heartbreak.’
The new season is an ideal way to draw a line under what came before.
Bjorn is refreshed and is looking ahead to the new campaign with both excitement and her typical enthusiasm. And while pre-season training is undoubtedly a tough physical challenge, the defender wouldn’t swap it for anything else.
‘It feels really good to be back,’ she grins. 'It's nice to spend time outside Cobham together, starting to build something for the season. It’s great to be in a new environment as a group and spend a lot of time together too.
‘The game against Man City at Stamford Bridge will be a good way to start the season; we will be tested straight away against one of the top teams in the league. It's going to be tough, but the first game of the season is always special. It doesn't matter how many times you've done it before.
‘Playing at the Bridge is amazing. It’s such a good atmosphere, and from a football point of view, the pitch is perfect. You walk out of the tunnel, and you can hear everyone, you see everyone, and we made some great memories there last season.
‘The reason why I do what I do is that I love it so much. I think you need to surround yourself with people who have the same mindset as you. I really love the feeling of achieving things together.
'Pre-season is hard, but having people around you who have your back and go through those tough moments with you creates a strong bond between us. It’s a beautiful thing.’