Carter is the latest member of the Chelsea Women's squad to sit down with host Caz De Moraes and look back upon her journey so far.

The 26-year-old has established herself as one the most consistent performers for the Blues in recent seasons while also featuring heavily at international level following an outstanding 2023 World Cup with England last summer.

But during an open discussion Carter, a talented performer across multiple sports in her youth, revealed she didn't see football as a realistic career prospect during her formative years even after joining Birmingham City as a 15-year-old.

The Warwick youngster even admitted that at one point, she leaned more towards the game of rugby.

'At 16 years old, Birmingham asked me to choose between football and rugby,' Carter explained. 'My guess was because of the injury perspective I chose football. I still don’t really know to this day why because I think at that age I preferred rugby – and I was better at rugby.

'I don’t know what made me choose football. Clearly, it was the right thing to do; it has worked out not so bad! But yes, I can’t really remember why I chose it. Deep down maybe my family were like, ‘You should choose football’ because they’re all mainly football fans.

'I honestly didn’t really see it as a career until I joined Chelsea. To me football had always been a bit of a laugh, a bit of fun and back when I joined Birmingham the whole league wasn’t full-time then. It wasn’t professional to me then.

'Then I joined Chelsea and it went to another level. I realised it was my job and I was going to work.'

Carter also spoke insightfully on how she eventually developed into a top professional, after initially struggling with fitness issues early on in her career.

She recalled, in particular, having a conversation with a former Chelsea and England legend who wanted to help her realise his potential.

'I didn’t ever not try. But it was when I stepped away from the pitch. At Birmingham it never felt that professional, so I could go and do what I wanted off the pitch.

'I guess it was about not knowing what it took to be a professional because I’d never had to do it. I remember at Birmingham, Kaz (Karen) Carney having a conversation with me, just trying to make me realise what takes to be a professional.

'It wasn’t that I didn’t respect what she had to say, we were just coming from two very different places. She was trying to be the best footballer she could be and that was not where my mindset was.

'I had to reach a level that I almost didn’t know existed. I thought everyone was going to be like Birmingham because I didn’t know any different. I had to quickly learn what it meant to be considered a professional.'

With the Blues still chasing three trophies this season, Carter offered insight into what it was like to work under Emma Hayes, who has managed her since 2018.

'The ultimate factor for Emma is that she wants to win – and I guess we win at all costs. It’s a winning culture at Chelsea.

'Even when it is good, it can be better. She just has such high expectations of us as a team, that she always wants us to do better. Ultimately we want to win the Champions League. It is the one trophy we’ve not won, and to do that we’ve got to be better.'

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