The Blues will play seven games, including the FA Cup final, as we look to retain the domestic Double, and plenty of match action with plenty to play for is a good way for the players to put behind them the narrow European exit to Barcelona last week.

‘We like to be busy!’ declares Leupolz, who is now in her third season at Chelsea. ‘Playing games is much more fun than just training, so we’re happy to have all those games – and the two trophies are what we expect from us, what the club and the fans expect from us. We’ll give everything to win those two this season.

‘It’s also important for us as a team, after Barcelona and going out of the Champions League, to find the winning way again. Everyone will be super-motivated and doing everything to win this game.

‘We want to, and we have to, win this game – we have to do this first step.’

The midfielder emphasises that a strength of this squad under Emma Hayes’ management has been that they show character in difficult moments, with the Champions League semi-final defeat being one of those.

‘That’s the good thing when you play at this level, with so many games,’ Leupolz adds, ‘there’s always the next one waiting for you, a chance to do much better. That’s what Emma has taught us and it’s super-important if you’re to be successful. When you struggle too long after bad results, you will miss another chance to win a trophy. We don’t want that.’

Tonight’s WSL game, which kicks off at 7.15pm, is a rearrangement of a match abandoned due a frozen pitch back in January. Coincidentally the Blues also played Liverpool in an FA Cup game the following weekend, a match which was Leupolz’s return to action after maternity leave.

‘It was amazing,’ she recalls. ‘After this long journey of coming back, just being in the squad and playing again felt really, really good.

‘I could see and feel the fans’ reaction. It’s amazing how the fans, and also the whole club, stand behind us and support us, especially me with the baby now. Everyone is really proud of the journey that we made and it’s just nice to play in front of them all the time. I’m really looking forward to seeing them again tonight.’