The Blues make the short trip to Dagenham for the final game in a run of fixtures that began in late August with a two-legged Women's Champions League qualifier against Real Sociedad. Our players will then head off to represent their national teams before returning to face Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on 18 October.

We are unbeaten since the start of the campaign, with six wins and two draws, and we have not conceded in our last five matches in all competitions. The head coach was asked about that defensive record and how she handles her half-time team talks alongside assistant coach Camille Abily...

On facing West Ham...

'The West Ham game is as important as the Arsenal one, one week ago. It's three points. They have the team to be strong and compact out of possession, but also the individual players to help the team in transition. When they recover the ball, they have the speed up front and the technicality to help the team.

'That's the main way other teams can hurt us. From the beginning of the season, we have been the better team in terms of how we defend those moments in the game, and we will have to be strong again on Sunday against West Ham.'

On her approach to half-time team talks...

'When we come into half-time, it's really important to keep being confident. Sometimes we follow the process because the things we are doing on the pitch are good enough and it's working, so it's just a case of reinforcing those messages.

'We always find the balance between talking about the tactical aspects, but also the confidence we need to have going into the second half and the mindset. Sometimes I am the one who is talking about the tactical aspects, and Camille is talking more about the mindset. Sometimes we do it the opposite way around.

'I always allow the players to talk at half-time to express how they feel and how they felt during the first half. We have enough experience in this group to know exactly what to say, what to do, how to do things at half-time depending on how we perform in the first half.'

On defensive success...

'We have improved a lot as a team. Being together is a key element of our success, as well as players having clarity on their role on the pitch. When you play in the backline, when you play in the midfield, every position on the pitch, it helps a lot for them to be doing things at 100 per cent.

'I need to continue to provide clarity on how they need to defend depending on the situations. The mentality and the mindset not to want to concede anything is as important as the tactical aspects.'

On takeaways from this block of fixtures...

'This block has been intense, and I'm pretty pleased with the results we got. Every player in the team is performing at her best and bringing her best every day in training and for the games. I'm pleased with where we are right now. We still have one game to go, so it's really important for us to keep that momentum.

'It's also good for everyone to get a break because it gives the players a chance to change their environment, see different people, go back to their countries and, for some of them, speak their language. It's really beneficial for them.

'For the ones who are staying here, it will be good to have some rest, and we'll keep working hard to make sure the players who are staying are in a good place when we come back and start again. I see these breaks as a positive thing for everyone.'

On Aggie Beever-Jones' form...

'In those moments, it's important for Aggie to keep working hard. There are not a lot of things she can control in this situation, so she needs to keep being confident, working hard on the pitch in training sessions, and we are here to support her in many ways.

'We already have a clear plan for her during the international break to help her to get back to a place where she will be more successful with us and with England as well. That's our job to keep working hard with her and give her the chance to return with England as soon as possible.'