- Niamh Charles has lost to Barcelona on multiple occasions in the past
- Chelsea won the first leg last week and Charles feels they can complete the job.
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Niamh Charles is still only 24, but there was a feeling that the Chelsea defender came of age in last week’s 1-0 win over Barcelona.
The Catalans only managed one shot on goal, while Charles and his teammates limited the current European champions to half chances.
Charles was part of the Chelsea team that was defeated 4-0 by Barça in the 2021 final. The defender, then 21 years old, had a particularly tough night, as did many of his teammates.
In last season’s semi-final against Barça, he showed great improvement, but there was still a gap.
The prospect of facing Caroline Graham Hansen and Mariona Caldentey would scare most defenders, but Charles seemed unfazed in Spain last week. She seemed confident and gave a performance that showed how much she has grown in the last three years.
Niamh Charles (pictured) came of age in Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Barcelona last week.
Charles (left) was part of the Chelsea team that was beaten 4-0 by Barcelona back in 2021.
“I would say my technical and tactical game has improved after spending hours on the training pitch,” says Charles. “But I think I’ve grown enormously, not only as a player but as a person. I’ve probably matured and gotten to know myself better.
‘How I deal with things, how I prepare for games. I guess part of it is time. I wish it had been a little quicker or happened overnight, but at the same time you can’t manufacture that.
“As a player and as a person, I’m much more prepared to deal with certain things. I’m probably a little more consistent.”
While Charles and her teammates may have a lot of faith in Saturday’s second leg, the defender knows that Barça will give them everything at Stamford Bridge.
“We are very aware that it is the break, we know that they come to raise their level,” says Charles.
“We are all aware of how good the wingers are and how good they are throughout the team.
‘If there is a little weakness, they will punish you. Although it was a good start, it’s definitely just the break.
“We know we’re not going to be able to just sit back, but we’re really going to have to match that and everything they bring to the table and hopefully we can come out on top.”
Ever since Emma Hayes announced she would be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, there has been talk of a fairytale ending for the manager.
Before the first leg, Erin Cuthbert said Hayes’ legacy would not be defined by a Champions League and that the motivation to win trophies was there regardless of his imminent departure.
Charles (right) endured a difficult night when Barcelona dominated the Champions League final three years ago.
But Charles (pictured alongside Millie Bright) believes she has “grown enormously” after past defeats to Barcelona, and that showed in last week’s win in Spain.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes (pictured) will leave at the end of the season but Charles has insisted this has not given the players any extra motivation and they are only focused on winning.
Charles, who has shared captaincy duties with Cuthbert this season, echoes those thoughts.
“Even though it’s his last season, it doesn’t occur to me to add motivation to the games,” says Charles.
“Regardless of who leaves, we are here at this football club and the expectation is to win.
“This reinforces what for me is the culture of this club. “It’s a lovely narrative and she’s done a lot for this club and it’s nice to receive that, but as players we don’t focus on that.”
