ERIN CUTHBERT talks Life in Blue | EP 12 | We Are Chelsea Podcast

I called my dad right away I was like Dad I've got I've got an email got I've got a contract for Chelsea I was working in Morrison's what do you mean what you mean I need to send my p45 to Morrison's how did Morrison's react you know what you have to serve the notice period I'm [Music] joking hello and welcome to we are Chelsea the official podcast of Chelsea women brought to you in association with scod the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport I'm CDA mores and today I'm joined by an absolute fan favorite she joined Chelsea as a teenager back in 2016 she's a Scottish International and of course has captained Chelsea this season I am talking about Erin Cuthbert and this is her life in blue Erin welcome back to the podcast we're so happy you're back we didn't scare you off how are you I'm here I'm still standing um yeah glad I've been invited back must have done a good job you did well you you never fail to entertain on and off the pit and everyone talks about it all your other teammates like Erin she's just big Joker and really makes us laugh oh no oh no I wonder what they've actually said all good all good I promise I want to talk to you about your life in blue so you've been here since 2016 how has the club changed facilities staff food everything everything tell me I mean it just keeps growing year on year I think staff is the biggest thing probably facilities as well we we used to downstairs we used to have changing rooms for the academy and you know I think we only had one or two physios at the time um one analysist I think or two analysists so it was all a bit crazy I think honestly we've probably doubled our staff size since I joined the club probably d older Squad size as well where we've been at it um but I think it's just it grows with like the increased demands in the game yeah and the the margins are getting even tighter than they've ever been year on year they get smaller and smaller and smaller and I think you keep needing the best in the game to keep giving you that competitive Advantage you grew up in Scotland am I going to say it right Irvine irin Irvine Irvin Irvin Irvin that's you sound Irish but that works that works she's like I'll take Irish over English no comment but you and you've played for various teams some of the first teams that you played for were Rangers in Glasgow City tell us about what it was like when you got the call that they that Chelsea were interested wow like yeah makes me excited when I think back we actually played Chelsea in the Champions League um six months before I actually ended up joining Chelsea I got substituted after 13 minutes okay that's the biggest like disrespect that's ever happened in my career my hands down I think it was 13 maybe it was 17 I think Chelsea scored and then they it was a tactical decision um but I you know I mean when a player gets subbed after before 20 minutes come on I hadn't even touched the ball you can't even say i' done anything wrong the goal wasn't even directly caused by me um but still hasn't got over I can tell no that that one still really really hurts so I thought that's my chance gone like no chance I'm getting I moved to England when you know people notice you've been subbed after 20 minutes you're you're effectively the scapegoat if you like um but then you know a couple of months later I got I got um wind that maybe they were interested in having me down for a trial totally understand cuz they hadn't seen me play literally totally get it makes sense right um that girl that got subbed bring her down for a trial yeah you know that one that got subbed after 17 minutes yeah find her we want and but for like for me it was all about waiting for the right opportunity I knew I wanted to play in England um had a had an offer I think about six months before for for another WSL team at the time and who it was um Doncaster Rovers Bells when they were in the top League um um so yeah they were really interested and you know it didn't quite materialize cuz I was studying at the time and they couldn't sort of facilitate that as well um in the housing but yeah I ended up waiting going to Chelsea I was I was training fulltime still in Scotland you know I wasn't playing full-time I was training full I was training like a full-time athlete I was doing full-time studies so wow it was it was a lot and then when I got asked to go down and train at Chelsea it was an no-brainer see where it goes see what happens yet it's a big club I'm I'm stressed like that was a big move big jump um so so what was the trial like is it like one day is it a week how do it last it doesn't really happen anymore that's the bottom line trials don't really happen anymore at this level um but I was 3 days okay I came downst at the Hilton remember it so well remember getting a steak the night before the game had a big game um steak and chips was superb from there by the way but it was so strange because I was 18year old girl coming down to London didn't he bring my family like I just came down myself stayed in the hotel I think it was the first time that had properly traveled by myself like that that's going to be quite daunting it was daunting and it was quite nerve-wracking as well a car's picking you up in the morning like yeah you you don't know what to expect like you see these girls on the TV like you don't know how where am I going to be in comparison to them is the level going to be so high that I feel like I'm drowning um so I trained for a couple of days okay and then on the third day we had a game against a boys team so it was perfect it was a chance to actually show myself in a game and I I scored an absolute Peach honestly I'm pretty sure that's the one that got me the contract um you know Jemma Davidson who's who's at the club now says to this day like she'll never forget the goal that I scored in the trial oh really yeah so that that's pretty special um and I didn't even feel like I was getting on the ball enough you know you know when you're the trialist people don't want to pass to you cuz they don't trust you you have to earn trust like you've got k te get Karen Carney mil Bri Frank kby who wants to pass to the 18-year- old kid from Scotland that nobody knows it's on trial nobody so you have to go and make it happen like yourself so um I think I ended up doing really well in the trial and Emma then took me to the airport cuz I was going straight for the game straight to the airport and I was on the way to the airport and Emma was driving me cuz she said right I'll drive you okay I was like oh em em is taking me to the airport do I keep quiet or do I not say anything do in the back or I sit in the front like where did you want did you do where did you sit I I sat in the front Okay I sat in the front I think there's too much rubbish in the back you know what I was like um and then she took me to the airport she was talking me through it said okay we're interested in you we want you we can't guarantee you'll play this is this is the honesty of it we can't guarantee you'll play um you tra you know you'll train with us but you might play games with the reserve team I said okay okay like I don't know what she's trying to get out of me she was like just so your expectations are are met this is the way it's going to be so I was like I'm going from the Scottish Women's Premier League being a fairly decent player there to then going to play reserves I was like oh is this for me is this honestly what I want to do um and I was thinking you know what I'm it's not going to be me it's not going to be me cuz I felt like I'd done well enough in the trial that I was able to compete and train and that I would never have to do that that okay not that it's a bad thing but I would want to stay in the first team like you want to play in the first team you want to be at Chelsea you want to play in the first team um and by the time self assurance at 18 that's great it is it is but if you don't believe in yourself no one else will yeah you have to it comes from within first and foremost um and yeah it was a big move a lot of people in Scotland were telling me Oh I'm not sure I'm not sure I'm not sure I just said stuffed a lot of you I'm doing it why though why were they not sure because it was a big move quite soon and I think people maybe thought there was a state maybe a stepping stone in the middle which okay I completely understand I wanted to play it a bit more safe completely understand and do you know what that doesn't work for everyone and I will say that like some people have tried to do that and maybe they've not quite succeeded in that but I wouldn't say there's one path for everyone and it's not certainly not the same path but anyway when I got to the airport I thought what I chat with him okay she wants me I've done well in the trial that's good so go through security go to uh Terminal 5 wager mam oh yeah absolutely your Waggers order it was chicken cats Curry at the time I'm gluten for you now but it was chicken Catu Curry extra sauce obviously cuz there Never Enough sauce on that thing there's never enough sauce you're so right um and I got there and I opened my phone and it was an email and it was for Paul Green it was a contract offer in the emails so by the time that Emma was talking to me there was a there was a contract offer in my email he was probably drafting it up at while Emma was taking me to the airport God Emma talk about mean what you say and say she was moving she was moving quick so yeah like that was I really felt wanted I felt like Emma wanted me she wanted to develop me she said you've got a lot to learn you're a good player but you know by no means have you have you made it yet and I always believe like your first professional contract you've definitely not made it like you've just got one foot in the door you're just getting started and that's kind of how I felt it was a bit of a clean slate at Chelsea and as soon as I got home I called my dad right away I was like Dad I got I got an email got I've got a contract for Chelsea I was working the morison's what do you mean what you mean I need to send my p45 to Morrison when I get back it was all a bit much I was studying full time I was a year and a half into a degree like my life had been turned upside down in the best possible way but it still been turned upside down yeah yeah so how did Morrison's react you know what you have to serve the notice period I'm joking no they honestly they were shocked I think flabbergast to be honest like who does that uh but yeah my little Saturday job at morison's that got that got me the bills to pay to to keep me going up to play for Glasgow City and it was my fuel costs and everything so yeah it was it was a great little job and I think everyone was just so happy and and shocked because a girl from from Irvin Scotland doesn't really make it to a club like Chelsea I mean Billy had done it as well we kind of followed in in similar footsteps a couple of years um after so um I think there's definitely something special in that and what was your Dad's reaction he I'll see it when I get home I'll read the details I was like okay Dad but I have been offered a contract just let you know he put his boss man yeah he was like we'll work it out see if it's you know financially viable and all that like I was like no Dad I've been offered a contract with Chelsea I'm going I don't care what you say I'll go for free if I need to honestly so that was the case and I think there was a little bit of interest from I think man city had a couple of chats with me okay nothing ever really materialized and you know when Emma just made me feel so wanted from the moment we spoke I knew she wanted me and I knew Chelsea was the best place for me to develop and I knew that she was going to sort of take good care of me as well because you're mom my mom and dad the daughters leaving home for the first time it's a big deal for them as well and I think they felt safe that I was in good hands with Emma and the staff and you know the girls that I met over the three days they were all so lovely to me um so yeah I'm I'm really really grateful that everything happened the way it was because it was kind of kind of perfect in some way this podcast is brought to you by scod the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport whether you're playing five aside after work cheering the kids on from the sidelines on a Saturday morning or gathering with your mates to watch the big leagues at the weekend scod is the perfect companion for your everyday Adventures zip around town in the fully electric enac or give the squad a lift home in the allnew seven seater Kodiak there's something in the range to suit teams of all shapes and sizes don't just take my word for it search the scoda range today to jump in and see for yourself um you mentioned about the trial but then now you're here You' signed talk to me about the first few training sessions how nervous were you and who did you first see and who made you feel welcome but also overwhelmed were you a bit Star Struck yeah um a little bit Star Struck like you know I had come at the time you'd signed Crystal Dunn Mar melder Rona bman all these top stars and captains for the country and you've signed there in cber who like who's that so yeah first couple of training sessions I was quite overwhelmed I was like just do the basics do do what I'm here to do kind of thing and don't do anything special sort of thing um and the first couple of sessions I was like wow okay the speed is a lot quicker I need to move the ball quicker I need to think quicker I need to run quicker like everything was just a level up in terms of tempo in comparison with the with the Scottish League and I remember going home every like my first few months honestly and just going to sleep I was absolutely shattered I was shattered cuz everything is so draining you got to concentrate you're a full-time athlete like things change for me and I was had so many naps I mean I don't nap now but I really really needed it at the time yeah I can IM I mean to be fair hearing it and knowing that you were training full-time but you weren't a full-time athlete you had your Saturday job you were studying and then you had to go from it it's a big change it is a big change it was a big change for me and I think what I noticed and what was the best thing about Chelsea is actually gave me more rest it allowed me to be the best athlete I could be because how can you possibly be the best athlete if I was getting up at half 5 to leave the house at 6:00 a.m. to do a morning session to do then to do 5 hours at Uni and train then train at 8:00 p.m. in the evening and get home at 11: so I was effectively left the house at 6:00 a.m. and I was home at 11:00 whereas a pro athlete I left the house at maybe 9: and then I was home for 3:00 and then it actually gave me proper time to rest so that when my session did come it was quality rather than quantity absolutely and then moving quickly to your debut do you remember it do you remember the buildup what was going through your mind was there I don't know a routine that you stuck to that you remember no I don't remember as such I remember my goal I think against YoVille yeah YoVille Town um I remember the goal I was absolutely buzzing couldn't believe it um at weat Chief Park but i' been waiting for my opportunity I think in the early stages all about earning trust from the manager from the players when I speak about like I want them to give me the ball and under tight spaces and tight positions but you have to earn that trust with with big players um and you know slowly the first couple of months was all about just finding my feet wasn't about making big impacts it was find in my feet and you know I think I've done that quite well how did the fans react to you and welcome you in the beginning they're probably like who considering all the names we'd signed and that's absolutely a fair point um I'd have been the same um if we'd signed someone now and you you know you don't really know of them quite well and you know at the time social media wasn't as big Scotland didn't have the same presence we hadn't been to a maor tournament then like hadn't had any exposure at National level um with that yet so um it was a surprise to the f fans but I think slowly as I got on I started just doing my best for the badge like doing my best for the team soon as I come on giving everything for the team and I think as a fan that's all you want to see it's never ever about you know scoring all the goals or getting all the assists it's just about giving your absolute best when you're on the pitch and whatever your best looks like and it's just about executing that yeah and so basically they saw that you did that and they were like yep she'll be Captain one day we love her w yeah I mean they probably never thought that at that time but um yeah I think it was certainly my aim I as soon as I joined the club there was I'd grown a big Affinity to to it straight away and I'm a Rangers Fan traditionally so we have a good connection with Chelsea in general so my dad was was quite happy as well did you ever think that your career did you ever think a you'd be here for as long as you have and that you'd be wearing the captains as I said you're absolutely Bonkers I really really would like yes I wanted to be a professional footballer did I know did I think I'd ever be able to make it a true living not sure honestly because at the time it just didn't exist it was one or two FA Cup finals on the TV each year yeah um so no I I really really didn't and I guess it is a pinch me moment but it's it's still only just starting for me and did anything change when Emma asked you to step up and be Captain well me and they tempered rily so for sure but no nothing changed honestly I genuinely do act the same and behave the same way yes I have a greater consideration for others and making sure they're prepared but you have to take care of yourself first okay before you can take care of anyone else um you got to look in before you look out sort of thing but yeah I think I've definitely grown into the role as as the months have gone on but you know we have missed Millie we have missed Sam but it's nice being able to share it with Eve as well cuz we're kind of two completely different characters and it's been nice to be able to bounce things off her as well and get a second opinion on things how do you think your teammates would describe you as a captain this makes me nervous um I think passionate you know my team talks they probably it's a lot of shouting a lot of kind of gearing people up for the games um and you know I wear my heart and my so I'm a type of player that you know you can see all my emotions you can see when I'm angry I'm sad I want more from the team you can you can see at all but I mean I'm sure you're going to tell me what they said right well you're a big personality so that's what you know people always say but you are inclusive you welcome them in Ashley said you were one of the first people to come and speak to her and to like welcome her you're very funny you're very funny I mean I I love knowing whenever they I'm like who we got on the podcast and your name comes up I'm like oh this will be great this will be fun do you know what I think with that no matter what happens with me at Chelsea no matter what I do on the pitch no matter how many trophies I win I think the biggest respect that you can earn and have is that people always thought you were a nice person off the pitch and I want to be known for what I do off the pitch as much as I do on it and having someone welcome you is such a small thing but it goes such a long way and people do not forget first impressions and for me I just want to treat people the way I was treated when I joined the club cuz I was welcomed with such open arms and you know I would hope it's the same for every new player that comes into an environment now well being the captain and doing that I think is the best way that you're you're leading literally by example and they've all got good things to say I can promise you that do you think that I guess being captain and everything that's happened has helped you and will help you develop playing for Scotland yeah without a doubt I think I've had the Scotland armband couple of times um but it's it's definitely a different type of pressure but I think growing my leadership qualities at Chelsea and at Club every single day having daily habits like that can only help when you go to national team because you know I'm part of the leadership group at National Team um we have an abundance of leaders in the group we have the captain you know obviously of Aston Villa MH um um CLA Emy we have Caroline like there's so many leaders there and I think I want to get Scotland to a major tournament and whatever I can do in my daily behaviors and my daily actions to help me get there and to help the team get there I will absolutely be willing to do so I think the leadership is definitely helping and I sort of bring a different perspective because you know we're involved in titles every single year when involved like different girls are maybe involved in relegation battles like you know promotion into the the WSL competing in the swpl like everybody's bringing a different part to the table and you know we're we are sort of competing at the top for the champions league and the really really pressure moments and I've worked a lot under Emma so you know I do say that I am a mini mini M I'm quite direct like to get things done whereas some people are maybe a bit laidback bit different I think a perfect balance of that is is so so healthy I'm going to ask you a really difficult question but looking at your career in blue is there one game that stands out to you as your favorite or your best game and why must be a couple um I think FA Cup Final 2022 after extra time when we won against Manchester City I ended up scoring the goal as well but I thought we' lost it I really did when they scored did you and we took it to extra time cuz I had no legs I couldn't run if if anyone tried to exploit me they would have absolutely have done that cuz I had nothing left but I don't think anyone did like we had gave everything that game we honestly gave everything and just the pure Euphoria at the end when when you beat your your biggest rival and you win a cut final at Wembley like there's nothing more special than that see my family there like it's the best thing in the world like you can't even describe it you cannot describe sharing a moment with your family like that a yeah I love it it makes me really it makes me quite emotional and I think all my best games have came when they've been there because just feeling their support I always feel their support from home don't get me wrong I always know they're watching every single game on the T all the pre-match buildup they're doing all the analysis I feel that but it's different when they're in the stadium because they share the moment with you it's hard to explain the moment rather than share the moment and I think there's there's so many amazing moments with Chelsea like it's it's difficult to even put in a podcast I think we're going to going to need to have another one I guess gladly I'll gladly have you on every week um I mean another tricky question who's the best player that you've played with here at Chelsea um I think everybody's had such different qualities I've really in wow it is hard you can name a few yeah really enjoyed I really enjoyed playing with J so young um just of the pure technical Brilliance she had at the time and she was so far superior in terms of her technical ability than everyone else at that point um and I've really enjoyed playing with Pella harder she's just a winner she's she's like me she'll do anything to win she doesn't care what's in her way like she is so focused on winning and I have so much respect for people like that to be fair I think I said something to Ashley and she Des Des cribed you as um a soldier willing to go to war for your team I will I'll I'll I'll do whatever it takes you can shoot me in the chest you can shoot me in a leg I'll run with I'll run with one leg that's absolutely fine I'll do what whatever the team needs me to and I'd run I'd run through a brick wall if I have to I love thaton hopped it in W be saying that much longer um yeah so there's been so many players like even Katy Chapman like seeing somebody in your position they T like her attitude to training to games like every single day see I think I really really respect the players who can turn it on every single day who can just get themselves up for it it doesn't matter if it's a big game or or like people are watching this game this game's on the T like see people who just do it every single day and just turn the switch on every day I have so much respect for because I think consistency is so overlooked in football and I respect so many people people who do that and you know there's so many in our dressing room that that do that and I'd certainly try and learn as best as I can off them have you got a favorite goal that you've scored since being here Barcelona maybe maybe Barcelona or FA Cup Final okay that I scored um against Manchester City Wembley I think just of importance yeah Leon away in the Champions League semi-final that was a special moment I was just a youngster you know chucked in midfield for the first time and everything was all relatively new but I could I could even say another one Arsenal away when I when I scored de brace at Arsenal and all the fans are booing you I think that's yeah pretty good moment pretty good feeling um but yeah I think it's for me it's not about goals it really isn't I don't care who puts it in the net as long as we win genuinely as long as we win of course it's nice when you when you score a we goal and Emma keeps challeng you may score more goals so I have to keep chipping in year on year but it's not everything to me it really ain't what did go through your mind when you scored at Barcelona oh my God I scored against Barcelona oh my God oh my God oh my God that's that's that's running through your head like I'm sure that's running through everybody's head um but yeah just sheer Elation that everything that we had worked on in training the day before was was coming to fruition and I think as a team there's nothing better than executing a game plan perfectly and the team following it because you get so much energy from it you might not know like if you're watching the game how well we're actually following it but in the moment it feels so good like that for me is is the best feeling what do you think has been your toughest moment here at Chelsea because we've talked a lot about the highs and there's been so many but what's been the toughest moment um yeah good question I think I went through a period of not playing in 2021 um I think 8 nine months not playing trying to prove to the manager feel like I'm doing a lot not getting very far not getting in the team sort of on the wrong side of of the rotation and I wasn't really getting a look in and I feel like I was doing everything and when you look back maybe I was doing everything but I was doing too much I was trying to prove myself too much and it was it was difficult but I feel like everybody needs to go through that process to needs to know what it feels like you need to not want that feeling again like it's like losing like you don't want to feel it again so you try so hard okay to stay away from it um and yeah that that was a really difficult moment for me for my family as well because I was putting a lot on them um I was really sad and it then portrays to them and they see their daughter who's living away from home who's all alone and in her apartment not happy and you know it try it transcends into just Snowball Effect it gets worse and worse and worse and you feel like you can get yourself out of it you want to do more but you don't know what you can do more of so I think I really really struggled with that um and at the time I was going through a few medical thing um problems as well so it all was kind of okay it felt like it all came at once it was all so overwhelming and you know I I just I'm a football who wants to play everybody wants to play don't get me wrong but for me like I want it so bad that I fight for my spot all the time um I'll be competitive and you know at the time there was there was an Olympics and you know I've missed out in the squad of that as well because I wasn't playing and that is hard to take and that does it changes you it changes you as a person it changes your perspective I hated football for a bit after um took me a few months to to get over all of that but I mean we we got there in the end and it is about how you bounce back it's about how you Bond it's about where you go from where you go from there because you can either stay in that place or you can fight your absolute hardest to get yourself out of it and you know that's what I did and I ended up having a really good rebound year which I'm I'm very proud of I think that was actually my favorite year at Chelsea just because of what I'd been through the previous year and you know mean you know I know Emma Emma loves me and it comes from a great place but she was she was really tough on me that year and I I remember it so well um but maybe that's this sort of thing that I needed to just keep me going keep the spark alive and it does really make you appreciate playing so much how do you think your relationship with Emma has changed over the years and grown I think I think she's trusted me a bit more as well like I think trust is earned with Emma she she's a very caring manager she cares about what you do off the pitch she cares about how your home life is like I've really confided in Emma at times as well and you know it does affect performance like people forget that we all have outside lives we all have external influences that are affecting performance like nobody talks about but why shouldn't it be talked about like why shouldn't it be but of course there's certain things you keep from your manager but um I think it was important that you can you can speak to her if you if you want to and I think we've trusted each other a lot over the years um and I think she's been really tough with me she gets tougher she gets tougher on me every year honestly she does but I love that because she she knows what I can do and I think that's the biggest compliment to me that whenever she's being super hard on me I know it's coming from a good place and I know it's because she knows I can do more and what I'm capable of more like she sees it she sees it every day she sees the analysis she sees the stats if she's going at me it's not because I can't do it it's cuz she knows there's more than me and I I love that type of manager and I've absolutely loved working well how would you describe her leadership skills and I guess do you think it's inspired you in your way of leading since being Captain yeah I think I'm definitely more direct I think Emma's quite direct to the point she's a winner and I'm a winner so that's why we get on so well honestly um she'll do whatever it takes to win and I'm the same and I think it's a it's a perfect harmony but I think just saying what needs to be said like if you're a leader people are looking to you you have to have can't always just be sunshine and roses and great conversations and I feel like everybody thinks there is a perfect harmony at the training ground all of the time but but it's not that's not how it works like if we're family we fight like family as well like don't get me wrong we fight like family but we fight because we all care and we all want to win and we all love each other deep down but yeah of course we we do fight and I think being a leader you have to have tough conversations and I think that's maybe what I've I've grown so well in so I have to finish on can you sum up what being a blue means to you no I canny that's the answer no I canny in the nicest way possible it's it's difficult to describe I I feel like it's a family um it is really sort of one club and I love the feeling of being part of something and I love the feeling of everybody here being a winner and fighting for the same goal and you know all the fans are so proud of us but it is only if we keep winning so we just keep needing to do them proud and I think being a blue means for me is giving my best every single day and until I no longer wear the shot oh Erin thank you so much for coming back on the podcast and for being so honest and so real it's always such a pleasure you like make me think you go really deep and then you make me laugh and then I get choked up it's yeah it's always a pleasure thank you I appreciate that thanks again for having me on thank you for listening to we are Chelsea the official podcast of Chelsea women brought to you in association with scod the official car partner of Chelsea women and proud supporters of women's sport during the course of this series we'll be speaking in depth to more of Chelsea's top players and we'll also be bringing you all the postmatch reaction to the biggest games with the players themselves so remember to subscribe give us a review and send in your questions to we are Chelsea at chelseafc.com see you next time

Channel: Chelsea Football Club

Views: 12,429

Keywords: chelsea, chelsea fc, fc chelsea, cfc, chelsea football club, football, soccer, sport, chelsea tv, 첼시, челси, we are chelsea podcast, we are chelsea, erin cuthbert, chelsea women, womens league cup final preview, womens podcasts, football podcasts, life in blue erin cuthbert, erin cuthbert interview, erin cuthbert podcast

Id: 0yuNjjr2TLU

Length: 34min 10sec (2050 seconds)

Published: Mon May 06 2024