Lyon end Arsenal's dreams, Millie Bright retires, and WSL2 promotion is decided!

0:04Rachel: Welcome to Upfront. I'm Chloe Morgan. And I'm Rachel O'Sullivan. Arsenal's Champions League dream. It's over. Lyon got their revenge on Saturday and so did VAR. Elsewhere, Chelsea prepare to face Man City in the FA Cup after an emotional week. And WSL2 promotion is decided as well as who will feature in that cheeky relegation playoff.

0:29Rachel: loads of stuff happened across the board this weekend but before we get stuck into any of the big drama um rachel what was your moment of the weekend yamashita's blue hair oh i loved it i saw her running towards me on the pitch and i was like that is blue steel right there um she's such a character uh obviously a great goalkeeper but like i just love that and you can always guarantee she'll probably get involved in the celebrations and doesn't matter yeah it doesn't matter how far down the pitch they are she will make that run all the way up the end of the pitch to get involved and no I loved the blue hair it's gonna look great when they lift the trophy um but yeah I just it made me smile that's a really lovely one do you how as a goalkeeper did you do you ever feel like you were left out of the sellies all the time did you run the length of the pitch or could you be arsed on occasion I wasn't you know I wasn't one for you know massive amounts of fitness back in the day um but I think like towards the back end of the season when we were just about to get promoted like and every game mattered and every goal mattered like the celebrations then as long as it wasn't like you know in a silly moment of the game like you know first couple of minutes in if it was the back end like i would 100 be screaming down there and giving absolute beans yeah it's um it really does get you it really does get you it's um yeah i also like isolating sometimes when a defender like this happened with um birmingham when the defender turns around the one who's at like the halfway line and goes you know what i'm gonna go celebrate with the goal keeper i love that don't forget your little goalkeeper take a moment for us you know take a moment for us man city don't need to worry yamma she will just be there wherever you score she'll come she'll celebrate with her blue hair she's turning into quite the wsl character isn't she like she's like i'll never forget that game she played against astavilla and she wore a cap yes i've rated that as well yes yes yes that's such an old school throwback that it's so good but no that was it for me my moment of the weekend also blue related in a way uh well not really a blue half a blue half a red but also kind of a an og blue uh lola brown i have to give a shout out to this absolute crystal palace wonder kid she saved the day in a way for crystal palace they were struggling you know portsmouth have taken the game sim we'll talk a little bit about that later um but yeah she came on in the in the second half she made such an important impact um yeah and like the assist that she got was was absolutely incredible i think she's going to give um sonia bonpasta maybe a little bit of a headache over this um this summer trying to consider what she does with her.

2:44Rachel: But we'll talk about that later. But yeah, 18 years old, she is on fire. Rach, Champions League. Chloe. The Gunners, it didn't go to plan for the Gunners this weekend. The Gunners misfired. Yes, they did. And it kind of felt like, obviously they've got the lead in the first leg. It felt really promising. It was a great battle. And then going into this game, obviously you've got, you don't have the home advantage anymore. Lyon are obviously a ridiculously talented, experienced squad, you know, Champions League, you know, belts all over the place. Yeah, it just didn't go to plan. And it kind of felt like Lyon took the game to Arsenal straight out of the traps.

3:23Rachel: You know, within a couple of minutes, you've got Ada Hegelberg, right place, right time, just missing that ball in. It was just, but it kind of felt like chance after chance. I'm still not sure how she missed it. I've watched her back. I'm like, did it clip the defender? Which bit of her? Did it go through your legs? I don't understand. It was almost impossible to miss. Nine times out of 10, she'd be putting that in the back of the net. All day. yeah I feel like they suffocated Arsenal in that first half I think having Melchie du Mornay back was a game changer she is unbelievable what a weapon in that squad she had the defence all over the place it felt like at times and won the penalty and then assisted as well but yeah I thought she was an absolute game changer she felt a bit like a case of individuals and collectively turning up for Lyon players individual players turning up for Lyon versus just players not kind of being with it for Arsenal like yes Arsenal looked leggy and tired but that's not an excuse you know I'm not going to use that as the excuse they've been in the situation before you know I appreciate they played midweek against Leicester I'm wondering did you need to bring Russo and Caldente on when you're 3-0 up against Leicester you know stuff like that just little things like that save the minutes just all those little things added up it felt like but yeah I just absolutely think Lyon came out of the blocks and it felt like you know you know when someone puts their hand on someone's head and they're like swinging punches and they just can't seem to short arms it just felt a bit like they were pushing the back and Arsenal just struggling to get a foothold in that first half particularly they just yeah what did they have one shot none on target so I'm surprised Lyon kind of weren't further out of sight in that first half I think it was that I mean Arsenal kind of did well almost through luck in a way that they weren't kind of, you know, 3-0 down within the first kind of, what, 10, 20 minutes or so.

5:13Rachel: Yeah, and I was really impressed with Leon. I felt like, obviously they took the game to Arsenal in the first leg, but this felt like a, almost like a, what, a fourth, fifth gear that they'd kind of stepped up to and it just felt like there was so much cohesion with the players. They knew where each other was going to be and it was just like, there was a directness to them and aggression. They knew what they needed to do. They knew they needed to score the goals and it wasn't a case of like sitting back and kind of being patient. it felt like actually their entire tactic was all guns blazing as soon as possible Yeah and I also feel like Arsenal have a little bit at times kind of relied on a second half comeback you know we saw it against Chelsea where they didn't start well managed to come out on top they didn't start well on the first leg against Lyon managed to come out on top it just almost felt like it just caught up with them a little bit But we did see that a little bit with Arsenal in the second half I mean you had the Sina Blasinius effort Olivia Smith then getting tangled and hitting the woodwork.

6:04Rachel: So that was in the first, what, 10 minutes or so? 10, 15 minutes of the second half. So it did feel like there was a shift up to Arsenal to try and match Lyon's energy a bit more. Yeah, and I actually thought bringing on Smilla-Holmberg, she came on higher up and then she was dropped back into defence, I think, which didn't make loads of sense because you saw her immediate impact in that position. Saw it against Leicester as well, getting a couple of goals there. So just little decisions like that kind of surprised me a bit. but yeah look I know we're going to talk about VAR and for me the conversation I understand why people are talking about VAR but like Leon were the better team and it was the fair result, Leon won it deservedly so VAR was heavily involved but got the decisions right and you know while I appreciate the constant intervention of VAR kind of disrupts the rhythm part of me thinks in that first half it was probably beneficial for Arsenal that it was disrupting the rhythm because it gave them a minute to breathe you know that kind of way so i can understand why it's a topic of conversation but for me it shouldn't be the focus um i mean to give it context obviously in the first half you really have got this like massive spell of var that's frustrating you can see how how clearly frustrating it is for the players because it's breaking up this run of play both sides as well 100 yeah it's not a it's not a club center it is it's the whole the game experience is effectively being disrupted by these decisions which again correct decisions no controversy for me on that one but I think it is just that time period because you've got these players waiting around the fans aren't being given a great experience the players are getting, they're not doing much they're stationary, it's not good for injuries and performance and getting yourself back into the mentality of it so I think just to add the context you've got the heaps header that was ruled offside which is a correct decision and then you've got Lotto with more conceding the penalty to Dorminé and then there was a replay and the VAR check for that and then you've got the retake of the penalty with Daphne van Domselaar coming off of her line yeah that's the one that annoyed me the most because to allow the game to restart feels a bit mad you know I just think for such a long period of time as well yeah I just feel like at least like 30-40 seconds of gameplay before they put it back and I appreciate it's awkward because if you save it they can immediately restart the game but I don't know do you wait 30 seconds even just to have a quick replay of the thing because that seems like a mad thing to then allow the game to restart and carry on and then suddenly you're like oh no I know you're all the way down the other end of the pitch but actually we need to go back and retake this penalty that's where I can understand like an annoyance again correct decision yep all day but just like come on things need to be I don't know how to make it quicker like surely some of these decisions can be quickly made I appreciate you know the Ulibrand one was very close and the penalty had to be you know looked at from different angles that was close both correct decisions so maybe that just takes a bit longer but just felt like everything took feckin' ages man I think it was that like the Uli Brand winner so obviously that was allowed to stand after the VAR that Lossie Rude Moy kept to one side by me that reminded me it was her elbow yeah that reminded me of do you remember when England played the USA in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup and I think it was Ellen White's toe you have like a your memory it's like Rain Man you know like there's a gif isn't there of like this there's numbers and like a matrix like an encyclopedia of like moments so you don't remember that then no mate it was seven years ago Ellen White scored and when they went to this is when VAR was first used in the major tournament the women's and it was like Ellen White's toenail was offside and the gold didn't stand and it was just yeah it reminded me a bit of that because it was like a lot of women Moyes like the leather on the back of her boot was keeping Eulabrand onside which you know you can't score with your elbow so that's absolutely fine also you've got to draw a line somewhere literally where her elbow is yeah I know there's a lot of frustration around it but it's the right decision because you have to draw a line somewhere so yeah I think it's but what's frustrating I think about those moments is that you kind of have this winner the crowd was celebrated and then there's this like lull of like oh like what what now they're talking about now like offside and VAR getting involved is like there has to be daylight like because when you're literally zooming in and zooming in and you know unless you've got like a million and one cameras you know and you're getting all the rulers out and the measurements and the minuscules and the you know it does suck the joy out of situations where you're like I'm so sorry but your eyelash is actually over that line so therefore it's not like Like, you're right, you have to draw a line somewhere.

10:26I don't know where that line should be, but it does feel a little bit like, has it gone too far?

10:30Rachel: Has it gone too far? Oh my... Sorry. God, you can tell it's the end of the season. Yeah, I'm tired. Do you know what? I would 100 % back. I think obviously, and we appreciate obviously the technology has come in. What are we like, a few years in, a couple of years in now to use this technology? But it feels like it's getting worse. But it's... Not specifically with this game. Again, these decisions are all correct. But just generally in football. I also think though with the emergence of AI now a little bit more, I think the technology will obviously be refined, it'll be refined and it'll start to build up a bit.

10:58Rachel: Yeah, I think it might become a little bit quicker, but we will wait and see. Obviously that does take also investment and everyone's like... Do you know what we need? Goal line technology. Let's start there. Yeah, well the WSL have got that new ball chipped thing. That might help on some... A shame that that wasn't included last week when Sam Kerr scored that obvious hat trick. Well, it is what it is. And I could have sat between the ball and the line. Pretty much. You're right. We'll talk about Sam Kerr later. You can say some things about that then. What was obviously, now that's happened, Arsenal out of the Champions League, all the Gunners fans obviously cancelling their tickets to the final.

11:33Rachel: Oh yeah, I had to cancel my Airbnb. Oh mate, I'm so sorry. It's fine, it means we get to do the WSL playoff, which I'm quite excited about, because I was really annoyed that was on the same day. I'm actually so excited about that, but we can't talk about WSL too. We're still in Champions League mode, right? We keep getting ahead of ourselves. Stop it. Obviously the Lyon players, extremely ecstatic to have made it to the final facing Barcelona. Yeah, like obviously it's a big, it's a Titan matchup. Also that Bayern-Barca game kind of felt like suddenly it was going to be got away from Bayern. But Bayern clawed their way back in a couple of times.

12:04Could have had that third goal again, VAR intervened. It was tight over both semifinals. And, you know, I've seen this conversation happening around and is Pernilla Harder going to be the best player to never win the Champions League? Oh, don't say that. I just like, she is so good. and again she turned up on this match again yeah she'll be gutted man but Barca through to another final they'll be delighted in front of a sold out Camp Nou again new Camp Nou new Camp Nou

12:31Rachel: I'll tell you who is really excited Michelle Kang I bet she bloody is she celebrated with the Lyon players on the pitch after the final whistle a bit of a throwback to the London City Lionesses would you not though if you were like if you owned a club and they won something I'd be down there in the champagne spray I don't know well there was a lot of controversy over that approach wasn't there there was like you own the club and you can't enjoy it no you need to give players the recognition we're sick of your support go away that is their moment but also a lot of the time the player like having been pitch side in some of these situations the players are like going over and hugging Michelle and what I'd love to see is Michelle Kang in some kind of like I don't know like a Lyon everyone watches women's football yeah like a shirt or something but it's just not her vibe is it it's very kind of suited beaded like yeah sunglasses you ever seen her like sunglasses I've never seen her eyes no one time actually on a Konesca panel yeah but it was in their headquarters so we had to sign an NDA yeah so you shouldn't have can't tell you what colour her eyes are you shouldn't have told me that you'd seen them no oh my god no but I can't tell you what colour her eyes are you're gonna be sued yeah yeah will you tell me off air no she'll tell me off air no I won't I will I'll tell you safe Arsenal face Brighton in the WSL on Wednesday night they obviously have a what a time to face Brighton yes almost no guarantees that they're gonna walk away with any silverware this season it's but I wouldn't say it was a disappointing season for Arsenal weirdly enough like they win these next few games they're in like a really really good position yes pipped at the post by Man City but at the same time it has not been a bad season I think the thing is I think because they won it last year the Champions League I mean beat Chelsea in the quarter finals to the Women's Champions League but I think everyone's like that's the bar now getting to a Champions League semi-final is pretty bloody successful in my opinion 100 % But I think they'll be disappointed.

14:18I think, you know, they need to be looking at why are they getting knocked out of cup competitions? You know, especially something like the Subway League Cup, which they won't be in next year, will they? No. So they don't need to worry about that one. But like stuff like that, that's something that needs to be looked at because it's silverware at the end of the day. But yeah, if it ends up being two points, you'll also be looking back at some of them games where they slipped up and got a draw and stuff like that earlier on in the season. They need to look at why they start seasons a bit slowly.

14:43This is a bit like, to be honest, some of the games they play where they start slow and come back in the second half. It's a bit like the season where they started a bit slow and absolutely came out all firing in the second half.

14:52Rachel: If Arsenal win their remaining games, it'll be 53 points and Man City would end on 55. Yeah, I mean, that's two points clear. Like, you'll obviously be frustrated about that, but you won't be walking away from that thinking, Christ, like, we were just so far off the mark. Like, all the other things that they achieved in the season, like, I don't think that's a bad season. Like, regardless of no silverware, I think you have to look at, like, the context of the performances and actually what the consistency that I think they did find. Yeah, I think towards the back end of the season. I think they need to look a little bit at depth and stuff like that to allow them to push further in multiple competitions.

15:23You know, Man City are most likely going to win the title and they're in a FA Cup semi-final. I appreciate they didn't have Champions League and that's probably, I'm not going to use that as an excuse as to, they won it because they were the best team in England. I think it's an advantage though to not have those additional games. For sure, but they'll win it because they were the best team in England and they were the most consistent performing. but you know if Arsenal want to win trophies they need to be able to go far on multiple fronts

15:46Rachel: yeah I agree but yeah I don't want anyone saying this is a bad season or you know even like questioning Renee Sleggers because I think she's had an absolute you've heard it here Chloe will come after you back off right alright I won't say anything two people who will be sticking around for next year Leah Willemson and Steph Catley signed new contracts last week Leah Willemson obviously like she's Arsenal through and through and she like an Arsenal without a Leah Willemson almost feels like I don't know an Arsenal without Gunnasaurus you know it's just like that kind of vibe an Arsenal without Ian Wright like it's just I couldn't even contemplate a world in which she doesn't play for Arsenal I don't even think I think she'd retire Arsenal I don't think she'd actually ever move to another club in like one of the least surprising contract extension announcements yes Neil Williamson is staying yeah and Steph Catley I think you know you've seen what a miss she's been as well when she's been out I think Lada Wap and Moy is doing great this season definitely I've seen some not nice things about her after the Champions League game it's not one player's fault when a team loses and a lot of women always had a really good season so far so but i think yeah again depth in that in that position definitely and katie reed hot on the hill his little whippersnapper coming up as well but also you see like why the importance of having depth particularly in that back line again that was another felt like a bit of an issue um during that semi-final but they just need more depth quality and depth you've got steph catley who can play in um left back as well a bit of you know variety there so they'll be pleased to have held on to the two of them.

17:10Rachel: Two years for Leo Williamson. Yeah, not too sure about Steph Cattley, but yeah. No, all of that stuff is always kept, you either get like, like when a player comes in, how much they've spent, not the contract. You get the contract, but not how much they've spent. It's always like a secret, cloak and dagger. If you get the full details of it, you're very lucky. You know what Arsenal comes to? I was keeping up on their feet. Not just Arsenal. Yeah, true story, true story. Coming up after this, Man City narrowly avoid disaster. Oh my God.

17:49Hi, this is Dave Musial, owner of Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing and Electric, and I want to guarantee you a breakdown-free winner. Did you know that a dirty furnace costs more to operate and can lead to higher utility bills and untimely breakdowns? Now is the time to schedule your Four Seasons Furnace Tune-Up and save$50. A Four Seasons Furnace Tune-Up includes a 35-point inspection, complete cleaning, and we calibrate every component of your furnace. So call today.

18:13Rachel: For all the right reasons, call 866-4-SEASONS.

18:27Oof.

18:29Rachel: It was close. I was at this game. Rebecca Knack, my God, the saviour of City. Broke herself in the process. Literally destroyed her own shoulders in stoppage time for the big win at Liverpool. It felt like a bit of a nervous start, though, for City. Really, like some initial really good chances from Liverpool that I think they'll reflect on. I think we actually could have put this game to bed early doors. Liverpool will be raging. Yeah, 100%. You've got Sillag, you've got O'Sullivan, you've got Fisk. Like, good save from Yamashita as well. Yeah. Your blue-haired demon. But yeah, and also, I mean, Jennifer Falk putting in the absolute game of her life.

19:07Rachel: bar the Rebecca Knack chance. Yeah, and like... But it's just one of those things. Like, it's just bounced awkwardly. She's kind of had it and then there's loads of bodies in front of her and she's kind of let it slip and then it's rolled into the back of the net. It's one of those, like, I feel like had they held on for a draw, she'd have been player of the match. Yeah, all day. All day. How quickly that changes. Or had they won it, which they should have done, because that mistake wouldn't have mattered had the three chances in the first half been put to bed. It would have been a 3-1 game. Listen, I...

19:32Rachel: So don't come at keepers. I'm not, I'm not. No, not you. Okay. Do your job. She's very lively today. Yeah, I feel quite passionate today. I messaged Sophie during this game at 18 minutes past one, right? And I said, City will win this. And at 20 to two, I said, I'm still convinced of a last minute winner from City. At 13.48, I said, it's coming. And at 13.49, I said, told you. And they'd scored. There's nothing like being able to send a message to your wife that said, I told you so. you know to be fair Sophie just ignores me when games are on and she's working so I didn't get any replies so it's not like it was an I told you so it was just more like oh I said that was going to happen and it happened it was such an interesting game to be at because obviously the crowd it was very like squeaky bum time you know you could just feel the crowd being a bit like any moment now come on please guys and like there was a couple of great chances for Carolyn and Bunny Shaw that they missed and it was almost like they were like oh my god it was almost like the crowd were like that was the moment they were the chances it's so unlike those two players as well to miss sitters like that well hang on this is the interesting thing about Bunny Shaw is that she creates so many opportunities right unbelievable goal scorer but her conversion rate is 17 % I think we've talked about this before that can't be true but it's because she creates so many everything she touches turns to goals but in this situation and look it's a tense situation it's do or die you have to win it they'd weathered the Liverpool storm at the beginning of it and actually I don't think Bonnie Shaw gets nervous though maybe not I don't think she does I've never seen Bonnie Shaw break a sweat in terms of like looking like just I don't know like a bag of nerves she was down one end like clearing a ball off a line from a corner and then up the other end this is like she's yeah anyway I think people talk a lot about well-rounded players she should be in that conversation too but point is I thought they rode the Liverpool storm I was sitting there thinking Liverpool are going to be ruined these chances because they started well high press City were struggling to kind of deal with that high press creating opportunities early on City could get a foothold getting the ball in behind a chillag every time Denise O'Sullivan slipping through the midfield they're the ones where you keep thinking they're the ones who are going to be looking back at going that was it, that was the chance if I'd have gotten a cleaner touch on that but I feel a bit like City weathered the storm a little bit and came out going okay second half we're going to switch the pressure a little bit and they very much did and then I thought Liverpool had ridden that wave I thought City had kind of they'd pushed and pushed they'd missed those sitters I thought it was maybe oh well actually according to my texts I obviously didn't but I think Liverpool thought they'd ridden the wave because they got down the other end a couple more times towards the latter stages of that second half and Jennifer Falk is having this world again you know about Courtney Brosnan the Everton game was it against Chelsea and Chelsea just could not get the ballpark that's how Jennifer Falk felt in that game I mean I know hockey and football aren't the same but I remember having games where I'd just be like I don't know how I am getting to everything but I'm getting to everything why can't I do this all the time island call up pending but no I just as the kind of the clock ticked down you could just see like every time the ball went out for a corner Carolyn was giving it this getting the crowd up Alex Greenwood you know they were it was a sign of champions for me they were in their heads going this is not done like I know we're ticking it's never over it's ticked into injury time and they're still like we have got chances we are going to create more Bunny Shaw is always going to create for example but yeah I just thought poor Rebecca Kinnak God love her she's diving header she had so much time to set herself by the way and set herself up like some sort of rocket in the box ended up in a heap on the ground I don't know whether she's dislocated or damaged or what she's done hurt her shoulder pretty sure she was in tears God love her the whole team like piled in on top of her and then there was the moment of realisation where everyone was like oh shit get off get off celebrate are you alright and then I loved because I didn't see it at the time but afterwards I saw the clip of Alex Greenwood legging it towards the bench and just launching herself at Andre Egler and some of the other coaching staff it was a lovely moment but yeah God if there was a roof on the stadium it would have lifted off with that goal come off 100 % I mean that was squeaky bum time but I think those are the moments that like champions that's a sign of a champion and a Man City in the past would have slipped and not gotten those three points so to get them back what a boost into the final game you're so so close so now if Man City beat West Ham on the final day on Saturday May 16th they will lift the WSL title no matter what happens that is going to be a spicy little game it's interesting because you know West Ham won at the weekend again in a game where you looking at the game how Aston Villa didn't win it I don't know but you know a double at the death for West Ham will give them a boost they obviously won against Liverpool as well last week they're on what 19 points they're in 10th now you know I have been at the Chigwell I don't want to speak this into existence again because I want a trophy lift but I have been at the Chigwell Construction Stadium when West Ham and Manchester City have drawn but the thing is though I think it's quite interesting because like once you get to that Man City West Ham it has to obviously fall on the fact that Arsenal haven't dropped points along the way so you know what they could arrive and have already feckin won it they could have a lovely time if Arsenal lose against Brighton on Wednesday night or Everton the title is already or Aston Villa yeah it's already done it's 100 % like the pressure is on Arsenal.

24:58Rachel: Wouldn't that be lovely as Man City? Imagine coming down on your bus going, I've already won this. Would you even come forfeit? We could have a lovely time. Although, you know, what you wouldn't want to do is lose the game and lift the trophy. I mean, you want to lift the trophy, it wouldn't matter, but you'd want to win. You want to go down a high, don't you? 100%. Yeah, you can't lose and then lift. You can, but it'd just be a bit like a... It's a downer. Moving a little bit, not even sideways. Sticking with Blue, sticking with the London Club. In the pack, in the winner's pack, essentially.

25:26Rachel: Chelsea beat Leicester 3-1 to secure Champions League football next season and it was a massive moment for Sam Kerr. She got the opening goal which made her Chelsea's all-time goal scorer in the WSL surpassing Frank Kirby with her 64th goal. I'm glad she got that because there's two games left and you know still not sure of what the situation is with Sam Kerr at the end of the season and if she's sticking around or not you know reports have it she'll be leaving so to get that to clinch that is a really nice kind of way to top off her Chelsea career 100 % I mean also like I mean she's she's prolific like she's on the stand for Bridge Mural like this is what people know her for is it it kind of makes fitting sense that she kind of see out a season that may or may not be her last in that way speaking of which Marie asked us on Instagram can we personally get Sam Kerr to stay in the WSL I'll have a word we'll see what we can do yeah I shot her first backflip celebration way back when they played Bristol in the then Conti Cup final yeah during COVID yeah um so I'll see if I can I don't know maybe I'll get it like done up in a nice kind of arty way and I'll be like you can have this yeah if you stay nice I will I don't know what I can really offer um I don't really feel like we can offer anything to Sam Kerr that she would want uh free babysitting oh yeah like some nights off so she can enjoy the summer season with Mewis?

26:52Rachel: Do you know what? I won't join you in that. But that's a nice offer. Okay. Well, I don't think, I think it's a difficult one, isn't it? Because you look at Sam Kerr and you look at what she's done at Chelsea and all the things that she's won under Emma Hayes and then Sonia Bonpasta and I think there's also a sense that Chelsea aren't in the place that they, that where she started. Like it has felt like a little bit of a flat season for Chelsea. You know, the season itself, the WSL season, the title's not gone to plan. You know, they've knocked out the Champions League with Arsenal and it kind of...

27:21Rachel: They won the League Cup? They did win the League Cup. Got some silverware? They did get some silverware, but it still got the FA Cup, potentially. They set such a high bar there, didn't they? So I think everything's always going to feel like a bit of a, I don't know, a drop-off. And I think obviously there's always been, I don't know, there's rumours of other people kind of leaving the Chelsea squad as well. So I think it's like a, I don't know, is this just the time? Has it just like naturally run its course and actually it's the time to move on? Because the NWSL is the biggest rumour that I'm hearing.

27:47Potentially, yeah. Now, tell me, Arsenal's season is not unsuccessful, but you think Chelsea's is.

27:53Rachel: I think it's just because the consistency with Chelsea, winning absolutely everything, bar the Champions League pretty much, for most of the seasons in modern history. And getting to semifinals of Champions League. 100%. But I always feel like, because I think it's the season that everyone thinks is the consistency piece for Chelsea. So I think when they don't perform as well in the season, in the WSL title, that for me feels like the real proof of whether you've been consistent enough throughout the entire season rather than the cup competitions which on the day it can just be a case of having a bad performance.

28:23Rachel: Do you know what? If they win... And they've had some bad, bad games in the WSL. If they win the FA Cup and this turns out to be their kind of transition season, Sonny Bonpastor kind of making her mark, maybe some players leaving, some players coming in in the summer and this is their transition season and they managed to walk away with two trophies, for example. I know they haven't won the FA Cup yet. I wouldn't mind as a Chelsea fan that my transition season still resulted in two trophies. 100%. I think it's just, for me, it's been how disappointing they have been in games that otherwise they probably would have absolutely smashed.

28:56Rachel: Their form in the WSL hasn't been great. You could say the same for Arsenal with some of the draws they had that could see them in a very different position right now. But we have seen that a couple of times in previous seasons for Arsenal. Whereas I think with Chelsea, it feels like a fall. Yeah. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It feels like it is, but objectively... It's your opinion. I get it. Which you're allowed to have. But speaking of a bit of a transitional period, another Chelsea legend who is already leaving. Left? Left, gone. Last week, Millie Bright announced her retirement with immediate effect, rounding off a career at Chelsea that saw 314 appearances, eight WSL titles, six FA Cups and four League Cups.

29:35Rachel: Yeah, she is the only second England player after Bobby Moore in 1966 to lead the national football team in a World Cup final. and we can't forget her crowning moment. The best part. Sharing the golden boot with Alexi Bouteus at the Arnold Clark Cup in 2022. People think the Euros was the pinnacle of that year. That was included in the BBC article about her retirement. Good. A picture of that. Which I got that shot because I was the Arnold Clark Cup photographer during that tournament. What a moment in history. Oh, what a time to be alive that was. Honestly. That's probably up there with, it's probably that And then on either side, she has the Euros medal and the World Cup silver.

30:18And then in the middle, pride of place, is that golden boot. Because Alexia very graciously allowed Millie to keep it, I believe. Lovely. Which I'm surprised Alexia didn't want it, to be honest.

30:29Rachel: But bring it back. Pride of place. During the retirement announcement, obviously Millie opened up quite a lot about how she's been struggling this season with injury. And obviously hasn't played for Chelsea since February. But she also explained there's been other difficulties too. So in an interview with the BBC, she spoke about struggling with the abuse that followed her announcement to withdraw from the England squad last summer. She said, I think over the past year, I've lost myself as a person and it has taken me a long time to rebuild myself. It was a difficult time. I was trying to do the right thing for me.

30:56Rachel: I didn't expect it. I expected people to be like, why are you making the decision? I can tolerate that. But to question my integrity, my passion, dedication, I can't accept that. Lines are very often crossed nowadays. yes I think I mean there's always going to be a lot of passion around moments like that you know Millie Bright is a big leader people didn't people didn't understand I think what the impact of her not being in the squad was going to have to England's chances in tournament I remember being a bit kind of at loss with the decision because I didn't think that that was we didn't see it did we didn't see it coming I think because there was a couple of them as well there were big players they were going to be leaving holes so close to a major tournament it felt a bit like pulling the rug out kind of thing and people were a bit like oh what so So I can understand that side of things.

31:39But yeah, of course, like we see it a lot. Things go over into toxic a little bit, you know, and that is a line that's, I don't know how we manage that. I don't know how we try and, I want to say, draw a line under it. We don't, but I don't know how players need protection. We all need protection, I think, from social media at times. But yeah, just a reminder.

31:58Rachel: I think like she has hit the kind of the mainstream media on a couple of occasions, Mills. And I completely understand like there has been a lot of, you know, conversation discussion about her career you know her choice the choices that she made um but yeah obviously like you know you can't get away from the fact that she's been an incredible player yeah and i obviously had a superb career with chelsea understandably but even barclays put up like chelsea legend and all her her chelsea stats and i was like guys without her donny bell days she wouldn't have broken the record for appearances in the wsl yeah true you've got to remember her time at uh donny bells i remember it of course you do i was i was there all those years ago when Donnie Bell's in the WSL he's in the pits as well obviously us all of us are up front congratulations to to Minnie Brighton what is an absolutely outstanding career did it surprise you?

32:42Rachel: no it didn't I didn't think it was going to be right now I thought it would probably be at the end of the season did you? yeah but also I think it's a really lovely moment to be able to do that in your own time and take your own decision to do that I mean I wouldn't say that she's at the peak of her career I think injuries have taken out the squad I also think the squad has developed quite a lot this year and I don't naturally think that I saw that many seasons left in her but I didn't know whether maybe she would move on to another club for example to still be at Chelsea and to still be being selected for England to be able to then make that choice yourself definitely you know because there are some England players who just kind of never really retired but just stopped getting called up you know so to be able to kind of make that decision and then be able to have a moment and you know for fans to be able to say goodbye and stuff like that that's quite it must be quite a nice thing as a player to be able to choose that definitely and I think I mean she said like she was at peace with the decision very much so and I think also there's a really nice thing that she has this transition now to she's not moving away from Chelsea she's becoming a club ambassador and then she's also going to become a trustee of Chelsea's foundation so I think that was the hardest thing for me with you know Crystal Palace when I knew that I was going to retire was actually like oh would I see the girls again would I have that contact would I be around the family as much and actually what's really nice for Bright is that she will still be around the players she'll still be super close to Sonia she'll be doing some great work with the foundation and all like the charitable things they do with you know young girls and people in the area and local communities so I think she'll still be very much a blue and I also think it's really Chelsea do a good job of kind of retaining some of those blue through and through players you know Cardi Telford still there yeah Arsenal do it with some players as well I think it's really important that you know these players are kept within the game that they're involved in decision making that they're you know sitting at key tables because they have such a closeness to the game they know what's going on they know what's needed and I think it's really important to retain that knowledge and that passion so for Chelsea to kind of keep her in and amongst it I think it's a really good idea and it also gives her the opportunity to kind of open out her career into other things like maybe she wants to do some punditry or maybe actually she wants to she does like a lot of work for them sports bra with Mari and you know companies like that that might be sort of a you know it gives you the freedom and flexibility because I think sometimes you forget especially when she's been in the game for so long it is so structured it is so rigid but you don't get your weekends you miss birthdays you miss Christmases you miss all these great life events and actually when you get to a point sometimes in your life you're like actually what matters like actually spending time with family and friends again and starting to do things that you really enjoy like I think it's um yeah she's obviously very much at peace and happy with the decision and I you know absolutely rate it taking that taking that call for her so yeah congratulations on an illustriously beautiful trophy laden career Millie Bright Chelsea now take on Man City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday Liverpool Brighton in the other semi-final that would be good yeah I'm kind of given how Liverpool actually performed at the weekend I'd say this is it feels like a closer match up because I was thinking Brighton are probably going to pitch it but I don't know I don't bloody know flagpole in the sand what are we saying for the final I would like to see Liverpool in the final I just think it'll be a lovely end to a very difficult season for them and just that kind of story arc from how the season started for them for everything they've gone through at the beginning of the season for the difficulties they had on and off the pitch how they've turned things around to be able to get to an FA Cup final would just be a lovely story for them um so like my heart says Liverpool the Chelsea City one I think is going to be really interesting because you know a couple of months ago you might be like City will have this no bother.

36:16City are getting through their games they've had a couple of slip ups but they know arguably that they've pretty much I mean we've said this numerous times at multiple body parts on the on the trophy but they haven't necessarily been at their best but they've gotten the points where they needed them they've made a little bit more interesting. Chelsea on the other hand are you know coming off the back of a couple of good wins looking a little bit more confident you know so I think that could be a really interesting tie and I wonder whether Chelsea could pip it I don't know it's really hard sorry that was the longest

36:50Rachel: fence sitting I've ever heard in my entire life that's what I do I sit on the fence I think Man City Brighton coming up after this it's time to find out what happened on the final day of the WSL too.

37:08Rachel: Oof! I had the absolute honour and pleasure of commentating the Crystal Palace Portsmouth game. But before I get into that, we have to give a massive round of applause and a massive celebration to Birmingham and Palace who have been promoted to the WSL. Come on guys, no mean feat because it's been a three horse race for a very long time. The day started with Charlton on top. Yeah, honestly. And also Crystal Palace haven't been in the top two for pretty much the whole half of 2026. And then, you know, just from the game, it was a draw in the Charlton-Birmingham game. So that would have been a point each.

37:46And Palace then were still in third place because they were losing at one point from, you know, so just the way it kind of like ebbed and flowed a little bit made it very interesting. So I'm glad you did Palace-Portsmouth because I did Birmingham-Charlton. It was beautiful. It was exactly the kind of drama that you wanted. And I got a trophy lift, so I was delighted.

37:59Rachel: oh mate I mean you didn't know you didn't know where it was going to be honestly you had this car halfway between all these like different like cities like trying to figure out where the fuck it was going I wonder who got the real trophy I actually know this and I can't say Birmingham City won will you tell me off air tell me off air maybe Michelle Kang's eye colour and where the trophy was it's going to cost you Birmingham City won 2-0 at Charlton and Palace got the job done with a 6-1 win against Portsmouth you talked to me about Birmingham then what was going on in your game before I get stuck into the palace drama.

38:30Do you know what? Charlton actually started quite well. Opening 20 minutes, Birmingham had to weather a bit of a storm. I think Birmingham started with a back three. I was the wrong end, but from what I was asking Sophie and talking to Louise Quinn and we were trying to work out, which I don't think Birmingham have done before, but it didn't feel like they were able to really get out of their own half and kind of get the value of high wingbacks for the opening 20 minutes. And just Charlton didn't take their chances. And then momentum swung and Birmingham managed to swing it back in their direction.

38:58and there was a funny moment because you know that we always talk about goalkeepers going down and momentumitis and one of the Charlton players went down with a knock the ball stayed in Birmingham kept playing because it wasn't a head injury and you know they were in a good position and they kind of the momentum had swung their way and they were kind of piling the pressure on and then the player got up and carried on and then the goalkeeper went down on one knee and put her hand up to the bench and I was like for God's sake it didn't work with the player now you're trying to like you know I'm like this is this is trying to take the sting out of the momentum here.

39:28Anyway, ball went back to Charlton's Charlton possession, sent it down Birmingham's end. Keep it was fine. Ended up not having a break in play. But just to watch it where they tried to make it happen, it's like, oh no, I'm injured. Oh no, I'm fine.

39:41Rachel: I just thought it was really funny. Game management at its finest. Yeah, but no, Birmingham did manage to, you know, I think on balance deserved it, but they did have to weather a bit of a storm in the opening, say 20 minutes or so. But I was, I was delighted, delighted that they, I was glad Birmingham won it. Sophie's been calling Birmingham to win it for the last two seasons. And then she tried to change her mind there earlier on. She'll say she didn't. But she tried to change her mind like kind of a couple of weeks ago. And I was like, you said Birmingham, you got to stick with Birmingham. But no, they generated 17 shots, only five of them on target.

40:15But they did, you know, swing the momentum their way. And Leighammer, I thought, had a great game, particularly. and yeah there was just a lot of delight in the game later on with the brace yeah it was just a very loud blues contingent in the corner as much as the Charlton fans tried to drive them on I'll tell you what though and I know we're going to talk about the playoff game but Charlton looked absolutely like gutted beaten not like a team that was like it's fine we've still got an opportunity do you know that kind of way there are players in tears on the pitch and I can understand that you know you started the day at the top of the

40:52Rachel: I'd be crying too if I had to keep on playing for another three weeks and summer couldn't start yeah no fair enough but it's just I just found the kind of and maybe look it was in the moment and it was the initial emotional reaction but I just thought guys you've still got an opportunity you've still got a chance you've got to be playing again at home at the Valley but they just look really downtrodden which was sad to see but absolute delight for Birmingham another person who was in tears Amy Merricks she was delighted I saw them coming out with all the Champions shirts they'd gotten them ready they were in a little box and they all started coming out all on hangers they're getting their shirts on yeah so a lot of happiness there in the blues I put up on Instagram what do you do with those shirts you know if you lose yeah because Charlton would have had the same shirts printed which they still could use I suppose at a later date well I said champions yeah yeah they weren't guaranteed to be champions no they were just guaranteed to go up yeah do you have champions shirts printed not even like where promoted which would have been like a or just like the odds are higher just put yay on the back we did it what is it could have been anything no I was going to say on Instagram, I did put up, it was a good day to be blue.

41:54Rachel: Definitely. Probably made all the more better actually by Berlin City, obviously missing out on the final day last year against London City Lionesses. They haven't been in the WSL for four years. Welcome back. Yeah. And also, I really love the shirts as well. I'm really excited to see those in the WSL. Yeah, on the other end of town, I was covering at Crystal Palace, which was quite hairy initially. Portsmouth getting the opener. Palace, I've got to give credit to them, did not seem rattled. it wasn't obviously the opening they wanted. It was only three minutes in they had like 87 minutes to get it back.

42:25Rachel: 100%. But it was like you never know like how the nerves are going to impact you when you kind of have this like massive thing riding on this one game and they did look maybe shaky in the first five minutes but after that I felt like they were absolutely fine. Joe Potter I think looked the most nervous throughout the entire game. I don't think she cracked a smile even after the whistle went until like quite later on when she was in the post-match interview. They had the best form coming into this over the last five, six games. They like went on unbelievable run 100 % like I really have to give they were absolutely the second half of them was complete change like the first half great but I think they were struggling to put passes together a little bit like their balls into the final third like they were it was just misplaced it felt a bit a little bit off second half Lola Brown comes on this kid I'm telling you these these youngsters these you don't need to tell me I was telling you after the under 70s don't be trying to claim credit for that they have yeah it's unbelievable Lola Brat within like two minutes she's got an assist for Viardin she does another assist for Viardin she does another assist for Elyse Hughes meanwhile she's already had like almost two clear shots on goal that she's not able to get her debut goal for for Palace I've honestly never seen anything like it I was thinking this yesterday when I was at the under 17 zeros and I was chatting to some of the players post-match and just kind of asked them about the game and you know you really had to work for it and they were there going yeah it's always you know it's difficult when you're trying to break down a mid-block and you have to be and I I was like, Christ, these kids are like 16.

43:48And they're, because of things like your under-17s, your World Cups, opportunities to play different opposition, different types of football, you know, they're problem solving from a really young age. And you're seeing the fruits of it through players like Lola Brown, Lexi Potter, you know, how valuable it is for them to face different types of opposition. Like you think of Lola Brown and the opposition they faced in the World Cup in 2024. Definitely. Kenya North Korea Mexico like all playing completely different types of football and how valuable it is for these

44:22Rachel: young players it's incredible honestly it was like she was having an absolute field day out there the team were like surrounding her she had like the biggest smile on her face but also pressure off like she's confident enjoying herself like a kick in the park for Lola Brown also big shout out to Elyse Hughes who got a goal after obviously having quite a difficult year with the ACL that she sustained just after they got promotion the first time round and also big shout out to Portsmouth as well I know the score was 6-1 I know it doesn't look like the kind of game that you'd actually be giving credit to a Portsmouth because but what I did see is a lot of heart from a team that had already had they'd already been the relegation had already been decided they could have come into this game and gone like do you know what it doesn't matter it really doesn't matter heads down they gave such a good account of themselves especially in the first half like taking the game to Palace they had a couple of clear cut chances in that first half that Palace were lucky they didn't score even in the second half as the goals kept on going in every single time they're going to the semicircle they're crowding around each other they're like girls let's go again they had more possession didn't they?

45:18Rachel: yeah at points of the game 51.7 % possession literally that like they I can't say how classy that performance was for them putting everything in until the final minute so like credit to them I can't even imagine how difficult that game was I have a question for you as a former Palace player this is from Jimmy to the B go on which is on the Football Ramble Discord how do we think Palace will get on in the WSL? He didn't say again, but I'm going to say again. I think there's going to be a lot of learnings from the first time around in the WSL. Like investment? 100%. They really struggled. And I think a lot of that is going to hinge on what they do in the summer transfer window.

45:54Rachel: I think they cannot go into a WSL season. And even though it's only been a year since they've been out of it, so much has changed. So many big transfers have taken place. Clubs have strengthened. Clubs have developed. Unless you spend big in summer to get some more international talent, they already have some good talent there. But unless you build in like you bring in yeah you're you're gonna struggle again and I that's the big thing for me because Crystal Palace aren't known for putting their hands in their pockets and I would like to see more of that because they deserve it there is no point getting them into the WSL for them to come back out again to have this same battle and it'll be even harder yeah so I think there's a good level of talent there I think it vastly depends on the summer transfer window how do you feel yeah I know that's what I was gonna say I think it massively depends on how much the club are willing to back them for sure please Steve Parish please do that Charlton now have a first ever relegation playoff it will be at the Valley on the 23rd of May against Leicester City this was confirmed obviously after their 7-0 defeat at Arsenal last weekend for the Foxes they've scored 11 goals all season it's been a bloody tough one for City, Leicester City it's hard to call because well like Charlton form wise they kind of wobbled a little bit towards the end we all kind of went oh my god what's happening they're suddenly losing games which they haven't really been doing all season then they kind of sort of like ended up back on top and we were like wait hang on we didn't expect Charles to be back on top again and then like when I look back to the game they played against Liverpool in the FA Cup and that game there against Birmingham just like where's the goals but then you can say the same about Leicester it's like it's going to be how both teams and they're coming in in a different situation right Charlton are playing at home Charlton have a couple of weeks now to prep for this.

47:40Like plenty of time to really analyse Leicester and really like have a game plan and get the players drilled and know what their roles are. On the flip side, Leicester playing away from home, they're finishing on the 16th, they've got a week to prep for it. You could argue it both ways. But you want to look at Leicester and say, you know, your future is being determined in the league and obviously they had to play Arsenal and Chelsea which was a bitch to have to play. And then they've got Everton next it's just about reframing those games and saying you know how can you maximize these 90 minutes or the I mean the Chelsea game is gone now but those games to get what you need out of them for this uh Charlton game I think the fact they scored a goal against Chelsea you know they scored in the uh they scored in the previous not against um Arsenal but in the previous game against London City again conceded way too many but you have they have to be able to reframe the whole thing and I'm I'd love to know how they're doing that in the in the backroom staff at Leicester but you need to be able to put to bed the fact that you finished bottom of the table and be like we have another chance Charlton need to do the same I know they were disappointed they started again they started the day on the top but like it's all about the mental side of this and reframing this whole thing this is a massive opportunity for both sides I think it's that I can't call it I honestly cannot call it and I think for like a long time people are like whoever finishes bottom of WSL will beat whoever finishes third has a lifeline no but will win and I don't think it's that cut and dry

49:07Rachel: this could possibly be the first sign that Charlton ever in the WSL. Imagine getting it through a play upcoming third. I mean, credit. I think Charlton are also something, a team that I very much worry about getting into the WSL in terms of the investment and the lack of backing. This is what I was going to say. You have to invest. You have to back. They do not have the benefit of a deep-pocketed Premier League side to be able to fund something WSL ambitious. That is the only concern I have for Charlton. But I'm really, really excited. 100%, they could do it. And Christ, you never know. Also, all these MCOs popping up, maybe one of them takes over Charlton and you never know what happens.

49:44Maybe Adele or Ed Sheeran, maybe fancy, no, he'll probably do Ipswich Women. Like, you know, maybe some famous, a bit like what they do over at Angel City, just get like a whole bunch of like

49:56Rachel: famous English celebs and just... I'm waiting for Olivia Dean to get shares in West Ham, to be honest. There you go. You just need to, what famous person loves a bit of Charlton? And Google says, five faces who actually support Charlton Athletic I don't know why they needed to put in actually Dame Kelly Holmes Sue Perkins they could be a great double whammy I would love that there we go we've found your investors a bit of comedy and a bit of you know Olympic gold sprinkled on top of that club you're welcome Charlton tap them up guys I don't know if you've considered it but maybe drop a phone call or you know you know send a text or something Karen Hills get on the blower go on thank you for listening to Upfront.

50:36Rachel: Find us on Instagram and x slash Twitter. I'm at morgy underscore 89. Rach is at girls on the ball and we are at Upfront underscore pod. You can also find us on YouTube at Upfront pod. We'll be back on Tuesday where we'll be reacting to those FA Cup semi-finals and much more. See you next week.

51:09Rachel: Upfront is a Stack Production and part of the ACAST Creative Network.

51:41We'll be right back.

51:44Rachel: bright reasons. Call 866-4-SEASONS. Atlanta. Imagine trading traffic for turquoise waters and turning your next long weekend into an unforgettable adventure. In Belize, you can soar through lush rainforest, explore ancient Maya temples, or just unwind on a Caribbean beach that feels like your own secret escape. And getting there is easier than ever. Delta offers nonstop flights from Atlanta straight to Belize City with a quick journey of just about three hours. Start planning your getaway now at TravelBelize.org. That's TravelBelize.org, your closest faraway paradise.