How much does it mean to spend a couple more years at Chelsea?

It’s really exciting. I’m really happy at the club. We’ve had good success and as a footballer being at a club like Chelsea is an amazing opportunity.

Why did you decide to sign now?

The time was just right, I felt really comfortable being here. I think the club gives me every opportunity to succeed as a player. I can’t see myself going anywhere else in the world or leaving Europe, having what I have at Chelsea. The time was right, honestly, I didn’t feel like I wanted to rush into anything, just like signing here the first time, it just happened naturally.

You’ve played all around the world, what is it about this Chelsea team that made you want to stay?

The team speaks for itself, every day at training playing with world-class players; getting challenged every day and winning trophies at the same time. I hadn’t won much when I came here and after last season, I think it’s just a no-brainer for me to stay.

Did your recent international success influence your decision?

At the start of being at Chelsea it was a little bit tough and there were challenges. But once I came out of that, I became better as a player.

Going into my national team, after the Olympics, I had a good Olympic tournament and I just realised that everything I had done throughout the year that Chelsea has offered me, and the coaches had done, and every little bit of work that I had done throughout the season, prepared me to be able to perform at my best at the Olympics.

For me then it was a no-brainer. Playing for my national team is really important to me. As well as being with a great club, they set you up to have a great career at your national team.

How different is it playing in Europe?

It’s completely different, just a different style of play. One’s not better than the other in my opinion, it’s just completely different. They are hard to compare.

I enjoy it, and I said when I came here that I wanted to challenge myself and I think this league has really challenged me and made me have to change my game a little and adapt a little but all in all, I think it’s been good for my career.

What’s your best moment at the club so far?

There’s been a few, but I can’t really go past the performance at Kingsmeadow against Bayern. Being 2-1 down in the first leg, I think everyone had already written us off.

We knew that whole week as a team that we would put in the performance of our lives and we did. That week was a buzz because we knew what was going to happen, but I don’t think anyone else did and to prove people wrong was a massive buzz.

And your favourite goal?

They are all my favourite goals! I always say my favourite goals are the easiest ones! Maybe the Wolfsburg goal in the first leg, the one where Sophie played me in.

How have you found it living in London?

I like it! London is one of the best cities in the world!

I have amazing friends over here and I’ve been really made to feel welcome by the club. I’ve got a special group of friends at Chelsea that have taken care of me and the staff have always made me feel really welcome.

Are your family looking forward to finally being able to come over and visit?

I love it here and can’t wait for my family to be able to come over and experience it and see my life. Since I signed for Chelsea nobody has seen a game yet, so I can’t wait to show them.

My dad is really raring to get over here, he is a big sports fanatic and really enjoys watching me play, whereas my mum just misses me and wants to see me. For my dad to come over and actually see a game will be really important for him.

How is your cat Helen doing? Is she being well-behaved?

Yes just like her mum, well-behaved!

She literally saved me during the pandemic and she’s literally all I had during lockdown. Besties for life!

Let’s talk about your special relationship with Emma Hayes. What’s that like working under her?

Me and Emma have a good relationship. She gets me and I get her, we don’t need to give each other much.

Emma is a great coach and what she does off the field for all of us players is really important, especially for someone like me.

I don’t require a lot but when I do, I’ve asked here and there for little things and she’s always the first one to help me and go above and beyond for all of us players.

That relationship is really important to me, I think it’s nice to respect your coach on the field but also off and have that respect for one another.

Last season was hugely successful for you. You’re the only female footballer to win the Golden Boot in three different leagues on three different continents. How proud are you of that achievement?

I’m not going to lie, it’s nice when I do win them but that’s not my main goal at the start of the year. It’s a nice reward, but if I won golden boot after golden boot and no trophies, it wouldn’t be that rewarding to me.

So that’s why last season winning the golden boot and winning the league was really rewarding because finally it meant something.

How much would it mean to win the treble for last season if you win the FA Cup?

It would be the icing on the cake for me after a successful year.

The year ended with a little bit of a bad taste in our mouths after the Champions League final, so to get however many trophies we got and to cap it off with a treble would be amazing.

How excited are you to share this news of your new contract with the fans?

I’m just excited, especially after the Covid year and now welcoming them back to Kingsmeadow. It’s been such a buzz having them back.

I’m really proud to play for Chelsea and I feel our fan base at Chelsea is special. You see the same faces around Kingsmeadow, so for me I just want to make up for lost time. More goals and more trophies!