Sam Kerr opened the scoring with an emphatic long-range strike before the break, before Lauren James netted a sweet second-half brace to confirm our progression to the knockout stages in March as group winners.

A 10,000 strong crowd were present for a festive night of football under the lights at Stamford Bridge, the first women’s match to be played there since we hosted Wolfsburg in 2016. We lost 3-0 on that occasion, but the same scoreline fell in our favour this time around.

Kirby, who conjured another influential showing which earned her the Player of the Match award, described the feeling of achieving our goal of winning the group, and doing so against tough opposition on the Stamford Bridge stage.

‘It’s a really special night, to win the group at Stamford Bridge is really special. At the beginning of the Champions League run, we said we wanted to finish top of this group. We saw the competition, we knew it was going to be tough.

‘We like to test ourselves against the best teams. I felt this was a really positive performance, the first 15 minutes were a little bit cagey but after that we really got into our flow and rhythm.’

With qualification for the knockout phase confirmed before a ball was kicked, Kirby was adamant that there was no room for complacency and that the squad have worked all week to put themselves in the best position to get the job done.

‘We knew we’d qualified after the last result, but we’d been speaking all week about wanting to win the group. It’s not been a case of, we’ve qualified and it doesn’t really matter. This was just as an important game, a must-win and we approached it with everything. Yesterday, everyone put in everything in training.

‘You see the players that come out on the pitch, but the players sitting in the stands are making it so difficult for us yesterday in training. It allows us to have performances like this, so a special mention has to go to the whole squad for how we prepared for this week.’

From posing threats between the lines and dropping deeper to instigate attacks, Kirby was a constant thorn in the side for PSG. Goal contributions and involvements are core parts to her game, but her ultimate motivation is to help the team.

‘I was trying to move in the spaces that were free. You could watch the game and see that they’re very heavily man marking and they follow you everywhere. It’s just about drawing them out and trying to find where you can pull them spaces. I just want to get on the ball and try to make things happen, even if it’s getting the ball and giving it back.

‘I like to be involved as much as possible. It’s something that me and Emma have spoken a lot about in terms of my link-up play, dropping deeper to be a part of it. I just want to help the team out so if that's me coming down as a spare piece, then I’m going to do it.’

After a hectic first half to the season, the players can look forward to some well-earned rest over the festive and New Year period. Kirby praised the squad for not allowing themselves to get distracted by the prospect of some downtime, staying fully focused and finishing on a high.

‘It’s something that everyone has been looking forward to. The way we’ve approached this game, you wouldn’t even think that we’re thinking about a break, it was so full on. It’s testament to the squad and everyone is excited for a little break.

‘I’m sure we’ll have a gym programme to do alongside it, I don’t think it’s going to be a full break! It’s very welcome, it’s been a tough half season for the girls, for those who played in the Euros not getting much of a break. It’s very welcome, but I’m going to miss the girls and the games as well.’