She discusses how support from the fans, the record at Stamford Bridge and not settling for anything less than our best will give Chelsea the best possible chance of progressing through to the semi-final, as well as talking candidly about our ambition to win the Champions League.

The match is the last of four consecutive matches against Man City, with the Blues having won two out of three of those encounters. It's been a unique situation in the WSL era, but the Chelsea players have once again risen to the challenge.

'It’s actually become normal because we’ve known it’s going to happen for a while now, but actually when I think what it’s usually like it’s like wow…,' she revealed. 'Usually you play a game and then go on to the next opponent. It’s not groundhog day but nothing changes, it’s the same opponent and you just make little changes.

'It’s been really unique and maybe it won’t ever happen again. It makes you realise that it’s nice to change your opponents all the time, but it’s also good to do something unique.

'We have to focus on ourselves and what we know we can do really well. Obviously we are at home, we have the fans, we have a good record at Stamford Bridge and I think starting the game fast will be really important, getting into it and setting the tempo that we want to.

'Then it’s all about trusting what we’ve worked on and playing the way we want to play and attacking it and going for it, not waiting for the latter stages of the game.'

The England international is an experienced figure in the Chelsea dressing room, a player that the newer members of the team can look to for advice.

That experience, along with support from the fans, is something Charles says the side can lean on in moments of adversity and pointed to last season's pivotal match at Bristol City, when the Blues needed to win 8-0 to cancel out Man City's goal difference, a feat that seemed almost impossible before the game.

Four goals from Guro Reiten that day helped Chelsea to pull off that incredible achievement, blowing the title race wide open when it looked as though Man City almost had it won, and ultimately doing what needed to be done to become league champions.

Charles said: 'Ever since I’ve been here it’s got better and better year on year at Chelsea. I remember when Emma [Hayes] first brought me to the club, my first game was the Community Shield and when I was coming on she said: ‘welcome to Chelsea, this is what we do’ and ever since I’ve been here that’s been the norm.

'We don’t accept anything less here, and that’s something that’s made the difference on a number of occasions over the years. Even when we don’t play well, we look at each other and find a way, and I think that’s something that’s really powerful and quite unique to the club.

'That’s credit to everyone, players and staff through the years. It doesn’t happen overnight, it’s been built through the years. That’s our strength.

'Having the fans’ support is so special. The days and nights we’ve had at Stamford Bridge have been amazing when you can hear the crowd all around you. It makes you even more proud to play for them and they are like the 12th player, it really makes a difference when they are behind you.

'At Stamford Bridge, but also at Kingsmeadow. I can remember Bristol City, for example, when we needed to score a lot of goals that they played such a huge part in that and they give the players even more energy.

'The record speaks for itself, we’ve done really well there [at Stamford Bridge]. It’s the stage the games deserve to be played on and that goes hand in hand with the quality of the game that we’re playing – the big games deserve the big stadiums and the biggest stage. It’s our home, it’s Chelsea. I think we’ve done really well to create a home advantage there.'

Chelsea have brought experienced players into the squad who have already lifted the Champions League trophy with other clubs. Catarina Macario won the trophy with our boss Sonia Bompastor at Lyon in 2022, while Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh achieved the prestigious feat on back-to-back occasions with Barcelona in 2023 and 2024. In the case of Bronze, she already has five winner's medals from her time at Barca and Lyon.

With Chelsea chasing that ultimate goal, Charles explains why having players in the squad that have already accomplished Champions League glory is a big advantage, and sets out her own personal motivation for doing the same.

'Those players have brought experience of being in the teams that have won it, it’s something that you can’t buy, you can’t replace.

'Yes, it was with different teams, but they have gone through the entire journey and been successful with it so I think that’s a big asset.

'It’s not like they’ve all come from one club either, so it’s great being able to lean on that at different times, so it can only be helpful.

'We want to win every trophy, we set out to do that every year, and the fact that this club hasn’t won it means it becomes something more as obviously it’s the biggest club trophy you can win.

'It’s something we’ve been chasing ever since I’ve been here at Chelsea and we’ve been getting closer and closer. When in the past we haven’t quite made it, that all adds to the journey and when you get close, you take lessons from that and hopefully, that will help us during this season’s journey.

'It’s massively motivating to want to win the first one at this club and we’ve been working towards that goal for years, not just this year.'

You can cheer Niamh and the team on in Thursday's huge game at Stamford Bridge, with tickets for our Champions League decider available to buy here.