Over the past five years, Chelsea have established themselves as one of the most illustrious women's football teams in Europe.
The Blues have won seven major trophies, completed the blockbuster signings of Pernille Harder and Sam Kerr, and are tipped as one of the most likely challengers to Lyon in this season's Champions League.
However, this is a far cry from where the club and women's football were 14 years ago when fullback Claire Rafferty first joined the Blues from Millwall. The England international spent 11 years with Chelsea, twice winning the double and experiencing first hand the club's transition from part-time amateur side to a European footballing powerhouse.
"Unrecognisable," Rafferty tells 90min when recalling the club she joined back in 2007. "The whole training environment and day to day environment is totally different now. The actual facilities - the team have their own hub, their own pitches, their own canteen and lunch prepared for them.
"When I first started we were, safe to say, last on the list. We’d only train twice a week on astro and we were after the boys’ academy 8-10 on a Tuesday and Thursday. We’d just kind of turn up on Sunday, we’d get second hand kit and it was kind of going: ‘good luck’. But I think that represents the whole of women’s football at that time.
"The big changes are, it sounds so basic but having kit that fits you. Women now turn up and the kit’s all laid out for them. Having their own gym, not having to wait to go to the gym. I think the main thing that stands out for me is having a quality training pitch that isn’t shared with anyone and having Kingsmeadow, a home ground that belongs to the team, that’s key as well."
Manager Emma Hayes has been pivotal to the growth of the club and everything that Chelsea have achieved in recent seasons. Rafferty spent the final six years of her Blues career playing under Hayes, and singled out the 44-year-old's compassion and people skills as integral to her success.
Back in the #UWCL on Wednesday! ✨
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) March 8, 2021
Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 second-leg! ? pic.twitter.com/dyltnZXl9k
"The attention to detail; tactically but also the attention to detail of the human being, not just as a footballer. The investment in the person," Rafferty replies when asked what makes Hayes a great manager. "Making sure that not just on the pitch but off the pitch they’re happy. And listening and having an open and honest environment and these players being given a voice rather than just being dictated to."
One of Chelsea's standout performers this term has been Fran Kirby, and she netted her 15th goal of a remarkable comeback season to give the Blues a 2-0 lead against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 ahead of Wednesday evening's second leg.
"Fran always was the first in the gym and the last out and I think that hard work is paying off now," Rafferty adds. "It’s almost like she’s a new signing; football’s fickle and people forget sometimes and it’s really nice to see her scoring for fun.
"Having training with her and having to mark her, it was one of them where you don’t bother following her around, just hold your space because otherwise you’re going to get nutmegged. It was about maintaining modesty."
BT Sport has live coverage of Chelsea Women v Atletico Madrid Women in their round of 16 second leg fixture in the UEFA Women’s Champions League from 12.15pm on Wednesday 10th March on BT Sport 2.
Source: 90min
