Sonia Bompastor's side were far from its fluid best at Pride Park, but we did break the deadlock early into the contest when Mayra Ramirez was slipped through on goal by Lauren James and the striker finished at the second attempt.

Bright led the backline masterfully and we went into the interval ahead despite heavy pressure from Manchester City. That did eventually tell as Aoba Fujino lashed home beyond Hannah Hampton just after the hour.

A response was needed from the Blues. It inevitably came with 13 minutes to play as a Ramirez cross was turned into her own net by City midfielder Yui Hasegawa. It proved the difference between the two sides, and for the first time since 2021, the Blues lifted the League Cup.

The trophy is the sixteenth Bright has lifted in her Chelsea career and she praised the resilience of the squad to grind out a victory on the big stage once again.

She said: 'Honestly, I think it was a solid team performance today and everyone did their part. Not everyone will remember the performance, they will remember we're the champions.

'It's a final and always going to be a tough game, especially against an opponent like Man City. I think we knew what to expect in terms of their qualities and strengths, but equally, we knew how to punish them and get one over them.

'Today was about getting the job done and I think we put our heart and soul into that performance. We deserved it.'

Bright added: 'It's part of our DNA, certainly part of the club every season I've been here for. It becomes part of you as a person.

'So you do whatever it takes and finals are about winning. Today was a scruffy game and bodies were put on the line, but ultimately, we've got the medals and the trophies. That is what matters.'

Today's fixture was the first of four consecutive games against City. We face Nick Cushing's side again over two legs in the Champions League and also travel to Manchester next week for our Women's Super League fixture.

It is a unique challenge, yet one Bright is embracing. 'You want to play against the top teams and the best players' she said. 'We're in a unique position just like they are; I don't think any team has been in this position of playing each other back to back to back to back.

'It's something we have to be ready and prepared for. Maybe there will be changes, maybe there won't. We will have to see, but as long as we are prepared and in the best shape for the next game, that's what matters.'

Tickets are still available for our Champions League quarter final second leg tie with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. You can book your tickets for this must-see game on Thursday 27 March here.