28 February 2020

Chelsea's Millie Bright determined to beat Arsenal and lift club's first League Cup trophy

Chelsea defender Millie Bright does not believe her side's two wins over Arsenal in the league this season will play a part in Saturday's League Cup final.

The Blues are playing in their first ever Continental Cup final having been knocked out in the last four on three separate occasions.

And while Bright's team would appear to have the upper hand heading into the all-London affair given they have beaten the Gunners 2-1 and 4-1 already this campaign, the centre-half does not believe it gives Chelsea psychological advantage. 

She said: "I think you have to put past results and past performances to the side. It’s a cup game, everyone is always geared up for a cup game and we were once in Arsenal’s position where we had a heavy defeat at home so we know how that feels.

"We know how that hurts as players and as a club so we are definitely not going to let that happen again. It’s the two best teams going head-to-head so for me it’s who turns up on the day and who executes their game plan, and shows that resilience and determination to go on and lift the trophy."

The first domestic trophy of the season will take place at Nottingham Forest's City Ground, a stadium which has a capacity of more than 30,000.

And Bright feels the added excitement of new fans coming to the final will make for an even greater occasion.

"We are getting a lot more numbers coming now, the crowds are getting bigger and bigger and we keep wanting the women’s game to grow so to give that opportunity we have to keep to our word and give fans the opportunity to turn up to games and fill the stadiums," she added.

"To be playing the final at the City Ground, we are hoping it will be a full crowd and a great atmosphere. We have to stick to our word and we have to keep pushing boundaries.

"For me it’s giving fans the opportunities to fill the stadiums and they may not be full the first time but the second, the third, the fourth, we will get more and more and hopefully we can build big atmospheres in big stadiums."

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