Sjoeke Nusken can finally take a breath. With the domestic season now over, and having worn the captain’s armband for Germany as they qualified for next summer’s Women’s World Cup after a 2-0 win against Norway, Nusken can soon look forward to a break.
The versatile midfielder made 29 appearances for Chelsea over the course of last season, scoring five goals and providing two assists for her team-mates.
And now it is time for Nusken to rest and recuperate, something she is certainly looking forward to.
‘I didn't book anything yet, so I'm really late, but I have a lot of plans,’ she grins. ‘I want to spend a lot of time with my family and to be at home.
‘I’m thinking of going to Madeira or maybe Tenerife. We didn't decide yet where we're going. So yeah, a little bit away, enjoying some beach, and seeing my family. A mix of everything.
‘It's really important to have this break. Especially because the last three years were a long summer, so it's really good to have a few weeks off now without a tournament. To be refreshed for what's coming next.’
Nusken has been at Chelsea for three seasons and has won five trophies during that time, including the Women’s League Cup in March this year.
Yet she discussed an overarching feeling of disappointment at the end of the season, something she plans to put right in 2026/27.
‘I think it was a tough season for everyone,’ Nusken acknowledged. ‘We had a lot of aims at the beginning, but there were a lot of tough games, especially at the end of the season.
‘There's a lot more we can do to improve. We have a lot of good players; as a team need to find the next step. This is what we are looking for in pre-season: to be ready for next season, and to get better and better.
‘I think saying a transitional year is a good description. It’s always a big change for everyone when players leave, so that’s tough. We had a lot of injuries as well. It was especially difficult when we had blocks with three games per week.
‘So it didn’t always go the way we wanted it to, and there was a little bit of bad luck as well, so overall it was a tough season.’
The conversation ended on a positive note, with Nusken full of optimism for what the team can achieve together going forward.
‘Next season, I hope we can put our performance on the pitch like we know we can,’ she said. ‘I think there's a lot more we can improve on, so I hope we will perform a little bit better in some games.
‘I hope we will win trophies again. I mean, we are Chelsea; we're winning normally every time, so we are hoping to do it again next season. It will be tough, of course, but I think the team's getting better and better, so we want to try again to win, to get back to the top.'