Our Women’s Champions League campaign came to an end in the semi-finals on Saturday, when our narrow first-leg lead was overturned by a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, after the Blues were reduced to 10 players by a red card for Kadeisha Buchanan.

Reflecting on a semi-final defeat to Barcelona for the second season in succession, Melanie Leupolz admits it is a tough blow for the Chelsea Women squad to take.

‘Conceding an early goal against Barcelona is always difficult,’ she said. ‘Then, I didn’t think it was a red card, but playing with 10 players makes it almost impossible. It’s really disappointing.

‘We are one team, we win together, we lose together. We faced the best team in Europe, or maybe the world. We knew 1-0 was an advantage but it would still be difficult to go to the final.

‘Going to the final’s always a dream, and obviously winning it as well. You don’t get many chances in your career of playing in a Champions League final so we are all really disappointed and it was a big loss.’

However, there is still plenty for Chelsea Women to play for this season, with four fixtures remaining in the Women’s Super League, beginning with a trip to Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Victory over the Reds would take us within two points of top-of-the-table Manchester City, with a further game in hand, meaning Leupolz is eager to put our European disappointment behind us quickly to ensure 2023/24 still ends with us lifting silverware.

‘Now we just focus on the league because we want to at least have one trophy this season,’ added the German international.

‘We have all been professional footballers for a few years and defeats are part of it, so it’s about recovering the body and the mind as quickly as possible and just shifting our thoughts to the league.’