Millie Bright from Chelsea is looking forward to the opportunity to play against Barcelona once more.

Millie Bright is preparing for what she describes as “the biggest game we’re probably going to play in our careers” as Chelsea get ready to face defending champions Barcelona in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge. The match will be broadcast live on TNT and discovery+ on Saturday evening.

Chelsea currently hold a 1-0 aggregate lead after a surprising victory in Barcelona last week. They became the first team to defeat the Catalans on their home turf in five years, handing them their first loss since May of last year.

The difference in the tie is Erin Cuthbert’s first-half goal at the Estadi Olímpic. Despite having the advantage of both the aggregate score and playing at home, Chelsea still consider themselves underdogs.

Captain Millie Bright is unfazed by this underdog status and hopes that a passionate crowd at Stamford Bridge will boost the team’s confidence. She said, “We are definitely the underdogs in this draw and that’s fine – we know our place and our role. But as Emma (Hayes) always says, any team can be beaten. It’s how you set yourselves up to do that.”

Bright also emphasized the importance of the fans, stating, “We need every single fan there. We need the stadium packed and absolutely rocking. The fans make an incredible impact on the game. We felt it when we went to Barcelona.”

Chelsea are aiming to win their first ever European trophy in what will be Emma Hayes’ final season as manager before she departs for the U.S national team. Barcelona, on the other hand, have established themselves as one of the top teams in Europe, having reached four of the past five Women’s Champions League finals and winning twice.

Bright acknowledged the strength of their opponents, saying, “We know it’s a fantastic opponent, we know the storm that’s about to come and we have a lot of respect for them. It’s still half-time. It was a fantastic result and performance from the girls (in Spain) but equally, we know that Barca were probably not at their best.”

She also stressed the need for Chelsea to stay focused and not underestimate Barcelona, as they have the ability to punish any mistakes. “We are in a great position and we know it’s about staying switched on. It’s a team that we can’t afford to slip up against or take our foot off the gas because they will punish you,” Bright added.

Having battled through a knee injury since November, Bright is eager to contribute to the team’s success. She started on the bench in the first leg but is pushing to be involved in the second leg. “That was my target – to be selected for that game. I knew it was a massive game for us and we needed everyone there. From a leadership side, it’s hard to contribute when you’re not physically there. I was just proud to be back,” she said.

There is mounting pressure on Chelsea to secure silverware and give Emma Hayes a fitting send-off. After failing to win either of the domestic cups, their focus is now on the Women’s Super League and Women’s Champions League titles.

Reflecting on the challenging season, Bright said, “This season has been one of the most chaotic. We’ve had players injured, new signings coming in and the announcement of Emma (Hayes) leaving. It feels like there’s been so much crammed into one season. We’ve had a lot to take care of, so I’m so proud of the girls’ mentality, their professionalism, and the way they’ve handled those situations. It’s been a difficult season, for sure.”

The second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Barcelona will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3 and discovery+ on Saturday 27 April, kicking off at 17:30 UK time.