The midfielder, unlike several of her Blues team-mates, had several weeks over the summer before returning to Cobham for pre-season training.

Cuthbert admits time to recharge was needed after a gruelling 2024/25 campaign, but she is now focused on the challenges ahead and a season that begins against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on 5 September.

‘I had a good summer and enjoyed the break,’ she says. ‘I think I was ready for it at the end of the season. Not qualifying for the Euros (Women's European Championships) with my country was a tough one to take, but I think in terms of my body and overall recovery, it was probably the best thing for me.

‘The biggest feeling now is excitement. We’re so resilient and are a team that never gives up. Even when we're down, we're certainly not out. We’re a team that will fight for the badge, because I think we've got so many leaders in the dressing room now, we wouldn't let anything else happen.

‘We’re an exciting team: young yet experienced at the same time. We’ve had a lot of players at the Euros, playing for top international teams. We have an abundance of talent, and no matter who steps out there this season, they're going to be ready.

'That's the best part of it for me, because we need to keep our foot on the throttle. No matter if you're in the starting lineup or if you're coming off the bench, you need to bring the team up a level.’

Sonia Bompastor’s arrival last summer meant many of the long-standing players at Chelsea had to adapt to a new coach for the first time. It's a different story this time around, with Bompastor and her staff approaching their second season.

Cuthbert now knows full well what to expect from Bompastor and is well-versed in the high expectations that go hand-in-hand with playing for Chelsea.

She has won six Women’s Super League titles in a row with the Blues, but acknowledges the level of competition is increasing every year. It's why the 27-year-old is not taking anything for granted.

‘Sonia has a foot in the door, and she feels comfortable, so I think she's going to hone in on exactly what she wants us to do now,’ Cuthbert continues. ‘She's going to demand a lot from us this season. The league is, of course, going to be tighter, maybe more so than last year.

‘We built up a bit of a gap at the end of last season. That was due to our depth and the mentality and resilience we have in the squad, but it's certainly getting tougher.

'Everybody thinks winning a league six times is easy, but honestly, it's one of the hardest things to do in the world to keep up that level of consistency against high-quality opponents.

‘What I've learned at Chelsea is you've always got somebody chasing you, you've always got a target on your back. There is big competition every single week, so it's about getting that training stimulus and the competitiveness so we can perform on a match day.

'Our fans have had some brilliant moments, and it's up to us to do that for them again.’

As one of the most experienced members of the squad, Cuthbert is perfectly placed to explain Chelsea’s winning culture to anyone new to the environment. And after last season’s semi-final defeat against Barcelona, there is plenty of fuel to propel the side towards their aim of winning the Champions League.

‘I think the most important thing at this club, and for all the new players coming in, is it's all about winning,’ says the Scotland international. ‘Nobody remembers the performances – we weren't at our best in the second half of last season – but we found a way to win. I think that's maybe what separated us from the rest.

‘I would love to win the Champions League; it's the only trophy I haven’t won at the club. You need to have a good domestic season to be able to be firing on all cylinders. I don't think you get one without the other.

'It’s certainly what the club wants, and as players, we do talk about it, we do want it, but there's one thing wanting it and another thing doing it. It's up to us to go and make it happen.’

A fourth WSL match has been added at Stamford Bridge this season, with the campaign opener against Manchester City to be followed by games against London City Lionesses, Arsenal, and the final league match of the campaign against Manchester United.

Cuthbert is relishing the prospect, and she’s calling on the fans to make the atmosphere at those matches truly special once again.

‘I love playing at Stamford Bridge, but what I really love is playing at Stamford Bridge when it's full. We want to be playing in front of big crowds; the more we can get, the better it is for us.

‘I don't think the fans realise how much of an impact they have on us when they bring the noise and bring the energy. It really gets us through.

'When I think of a tough moment last year, I think of being two-nil down to Manchester City, coming back to Stamford Bridge and having comfortably beaten a big team and a very, very good team in Manchester City. I truly believe the fans helped make that happen.

‘I think for us, we want to be playing at Stamford Bridge. We want to be playing in front of a sellout stadium, I think the club deserves that.’

'We deserve that as players, too. Hopefully, with the effect of the Euros, many fans will come out and watch their heroes. Unfortunately, it wasn't me, but maybe they can find the hero in me once they come and watch us!'

You can secure your spot to all four games at Stamford Bridge this season with The Bridge Pass, saving you 20 per cent compared to buying individual match tickets throughout the campaign.