05 February 2023 , 07:00
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Over six months have now passed since what Millie Bright called "the best day of my life" - the day England's Lionesses brought football home by winning Euro 2022.
Although Bright still can't help but smile every time the memory of that day at Wembley flashes through, she is also quick to reflect on the post-tournament comedown, a period that she describes as "extremely" difficult.
Most people within the women's game will tell you the towering centre-half is having her best season yet for both club and country, a point of view shared by Bright herself. But the 29-year-old's impeccable form, which has helped Chelsea to another title push, has come on the back of an emotional rollercoaster.
The lack of time between last summer's major international tournament and club football restarting is already a hot topic in the sport, with questions over player burnout fuelled partially by a high number of long-term injuries to high-profile players. And for Bright, vice-captain as England won a first major trophy, the challenge of 'going again' so quickly wasn't the easiest.
"It (that period) was e xtremely tough " Bright told Mirror Football. "After the tournament I was exhausted mentally and physically. The emotional rollercoaster was tough to deal with.
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“We were all focused every day during the Euros, so mentally we were all tired when we had the release after winning, we didn’t let-up once throughout the month. Regardless of the outcome, I just wanted to make sure I had done everything possible I could do. That is how I always go into games.
“Then after I can tell myself, I've done everything and helped everyone as much as I can. It was really tiring but at the same time I was eager to get back. I wanted to keep the standard high.
"Winning a major trophy like that has pushed me on to keep succeeding and reaching a whole new level. The pressure doesn’t go after winning, it just increases your own expectations, mine have become so much higher."
With 64 caps, Bright is now one of the biggest names in both the Lionesses squad and for the WSL champions. But she still credits her formative years at former club Doncaster Rovers Belles as playing a significant role in her journey.
The Belles were relegated after only one game of the 2013 WSL season, when they were told they weren't going to be given a top-flight license for the following year as Man City controversially took their place. Despite such a huge blow, Bright, who at the time was still playing in a variety of positions including as a striker, stayed with the club throughout that season and the following year.
It was tough lesson in how cruel football can be, that perhaps equipped her to cope with latter disappointments, such as being sent-off in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. Bright even turned down the club she would later make her name at, sensing it would be the making of her as a player.
Millie Bright battles Beth England for possession in the League Cup quarter-final (2023 Getty Images)"I decided to stay because I’ve always been a loyal player," explained Bright. "I don’t leave unless I need to leave. Chelsea actually came in for me but I didn’t feel ready for the next level, so I stayed at Doncaster and played in the league below.
“But also I wanted to figure myself out as a player. At that time I had played in so many different positions I still was getting to grips with what I was going to be. People told me I was crazy and that I would never get that opportunity again. But luckily Chelsea came in a year later. I said yes in a heartbeat.
“By that time I was ready to go and compete. Looking back it was definitely the right decision to stay at Doncaster and get that experience. Also to see how I reacted from getting relegated, we played the whole season knowing we were going down and how that affected me as a person.
"But I dealt with the challenge, being relegated taught me a lot about myself. I’ve been at Chelsea ever since and here I am."
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Bright has taken her game to a new level in 2023 (2022 Getty Images)She may have the taken the long route to Kingsmeadow, but it's now hard to imagine Bright turning out in a shirt at club level that isn't Chelsea blue. Six WSL titles, two Conti Cups and four FA Cups have followed but one trophy at club level still eludes her - the Champions League.
Led by Emma Hayes, the Blues came close in 2021, reaching the final before losing 4-0 to an inspired Barcelona side. Bright scored a crucial winner away to PSG earlier this season, a goal that eventually helped Chelsea finish top of a tricky looking group, also including Real Madrid, to reach the last eight.
And she believes that game in particular, shows how her team are using their painful experiences of the past to become a different beast on the European scene.
"We believe in ourselves to win in Europe, 100%," stated Bright, "We have a tougher mentality now. Losing a final (in 2021) and then going out in the group stages (in 2022) was tough, but we’ve got those Champions League experiences now.
"The PSG game away was one of my favourite games in Europe, we dominated and got a great result. They are a top, top team. The scoreline didn’t reflect how well we played, but to go and deal with such an intense atmosphere was nice. It showed a new Chelsea on that level.
"But every team at that level is different from last season, they’ve all made big signings. It’s almost like we’re playing new teams, so we have to be prepared for anyone in that competition. Our mentality is to get the job done.
Not only will Europe's premier competition soon return, but Bright also has a big month with England on the horizon. The Lionesses take on Italy, South Korea and Belgium in the Arnold Clark Cup, a competition won last year as Sarina Wiegman's team prepared for the Euros.
It also was the scene of Bright's biggest goal-scoring triumph to date, the former striker winning the golden boot after two goals in three games. She laughs when reminded of the slightly unusual accolade, but does the centre-back miss playing further forward?
Bright will be looking to help England lift a second major trophy when they go the Women's World Cup in the summer (UEFA via Getty Images)"I always want to contribute for sure," she says. "And it is something I want to keep adding to my game. It is something that has improved, I love to contribute in terms of goals.
"It is definitely something that has improved in my game over the last year. I think I have shown that at club and international level, I can be a presence on set-pieces. But it’s not something I miss, as long as the ball is in the net it doesn't matter, I’m happy with that."
The next couple of months will be Bright's biggest test since that famous day at Wembley last summer. Chelsea are right in the midst of a title fight with Arsenal and Man Utd, England begin the countdown to the World Cup and the Champions League returns in March.
But the competitor within the Chesterfield-born star is relishing the challenge.
"These next few weeks are going to be all guns blazing. But I love it when there’s a lot of games, I think I get in a rhythm which really helps.
"It’s just exciting knowing I’ve got so many big games coming up in big competitions. It has been really competitive and challenging this season, winning trophies is only getting harder each year, but we know this time of the year is going to be big.
"And we relish this as a team. It’s going to take even more than what we had last year. But I’m also really proud as a female footballer to see the league growing with better overseas players coming to play and youngsters coming through. This is the best league to play in, in the women’s game.
"I’ve always said I want to be part of the change that sees women’s football go to the next level and take off. And we really are getting there."
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