Maika Hamano is not well known for scoring with her head, but that’s how the Blues forward netted our third goal against West Ham United before the international break.
She then went on to represent Japan, scoring again against Haiti in a 5-1 friendly win less than a week later.
It really didn’t matter how she scored her first goal of the season for the Blues, but as she explained when we sat down with her ahead of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge, the timing of her strike was crucial.
‘It felt like relief,’ she says. ‘And I was proud of myself and thankful to my teammates. For me, the most important thing was doing something goal-related, like when you score or assist. I have been waiting all season to do it.
‘It’s been difficult at times, but I think now I have a rhythm, and as a footballer, everyone needs to prepare for their chances. If you have a chance, you need to take it.’
Hamano spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham, and Sunday’s game will see her face her former team-mates for the first time.
‘When I was at Tottenham, I learned a lot about tactics from (head coach) Martin Ho,’ Hamano reflects. ‘I learned from my team-mates as well; they play well as a team together.
‘They will be difficult to play against on Sunday because they have confidence on the ball and they play with patience – they don’t rush to get to the goal.
‘We will have difficult moments, but we need to deal with them. We need to play like Chelsea. When we have the ball, we need to be strong and to be ourselves, like champions. We can control the game. We need to be patient and take our chances when they come.’
Still just 22 years old, Hamano wants to keep striving for excellence and set high standards for herself. Our conversation turns towards what she wants to achieve in football, and she is unequivocal in her answer.
‘I have a big dream, so I need to make each day count, and I need to improve,’ she smiles. ‘I know I'm a good player, but I'm not like (Lionel) Messi - I still have room to improve.
‘My big dream is to win the Ballon d'Or and win the World Cup with Japan. I want to improve day by day and always be the best version of myself.
'For me, football is life and football is everything. So I will do whatever it takes to succeed.’