by Jess Carter had a whirlwind two years. The Warwick-born defender went from being a bit part player in England’s Euro 2022 squad to emerging as a key player in Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup side a year later, when they reached the final.
During that period she also enjoyed success at club level, becoming a regular in the Chelsea team after a few patchy seasons after joining from Birmingham City in 2018. With Carter in the back three or four, Chelsea have bounced back. to get back. domestic doubles. Now, however, she and her colleagues are facing a new challenge: life without Emma Hayes.
The Chelsea manager isn’t gone yet, of course, but he is leaving the club in the summer to become the coach of the US women’s national team. Hayes was a champion for the promotion of women’s football and a key builder to make the game fairer and more professional. English football as a whole will feel her absence, but not just Chelsea.
For Carter, with Chelsea facing Arsenal in a potentially decisive Women’s Super League clash at Stamford Bridge on Friday, Hayes’ departure is an added boost for Chelsea to win big this year. “I think some people were very excited to hear that she is going and it may have affected their confidence a little to know that she will not be there” she says. “But at the same time [it will] also encourage people to try to win more. One last win, one last win.”
Hayes is someone who has pushed Carter to where she has been for the past two years. DAZN’s One Team, One Dream look back: Here’s Chelsea’s documentary from 2019, you can see how far she’s come. In the 2019-20 pre-season, Carter looked up to speed after struggling with illness in the previous campaign and Hayes did not hold back in his assessment of Carter’s performance levels, bluntly telling the defender: “D’ I paid you a lot of money. . If you don’t get better, I’m selling you.”
When asked if the conversation might have helped her in the end, she replied: “Oh good question. It’s obvious at the time that they’re conversations you don’t want or maybe you don’t value the time. But I think you know … I appreciate the honesty and if that’s what she really felt, then that was it.
“I think that love has always been a bit tougher for me for whatever reason. But obviously some of that helped me and helped improve my game. But I’m still here and I’m happy that football has grown at club level and at international level and come out the other side now.”
Carter’s rising status as an England and Chelsea international starter has given her a platform to inspire the next generation of girls to play football. Her relationship with Chelsea colleague Ann-Katrin Berger was also the subject of discussion with Vogue including her in their Pride Portfolio and describing her as a “queer icon”.
However, Carter says: “I don’t see myself as a role model at all. As for me, I’m just out here doing my thing really. If I can inspire a few people along the way or if I can make a few people comfortable where they are and willing to go and be who they are in any kind of environment then that’s great. It’s just an added bonus on top of doing what I have to do.”
Every season she is playing in front of more and more fans. All of Chelsea’s Champions League games have been held at Stamford Bridge apart from Kingsmeadow this season, as well as WSL games against Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as the upcoming game against Arsenal.
But Stamford Bridge still doesn’t feel like home for Carter. “I know I should probably say it does [feel like home]” she says as she looks out onto the stunning Stamford Bridge pitch. “I still love Kingsmeadow and always have. Of course I think we’re getting better at Kingsmeadow but it’s difficult when we play at Stamford Bridge and we’re only a few thousand people here because it feels very empty there. There’s not much atmosphere and I feel like I’m playing in a field.”
Chelsea have struggled to fill the 40,000-seat stadium since coming close against Tottenham in November 2022, setting a new record of 38,350 at the time. Fewer than 15,000 fans have turned out for a Chelsea game against the same opponents this season and success on the pitch does not seem to guarantee a full house.
Reigning champions Arsenal, who set a WSL attendance record in December 2023 when more than 59,000 watched them beat Chelsea 4-1 at the Emirates (the Gunners had achieving their own record since a 3-1 win over Manchester). United last month).
Chelsea’s game against Arsenal, however, is a chance for redemption, not just on the pitch but in the stands as well. “I think it will be a great game not only for us but for the league. The title race is really tight and that game will be a huge factor in it,” says Carter. “We know the crowds that Arsenal get and obviously the fans are fantastic so you know we want their opposition fans to come as much as we want our own supporters here and hopefully we can sell it out.”
There is one Chelsea fan in particular who Carter is excited to see, even better to hear, at the game. Basil Goode has been a special figure among the Chelsea faithful over the last few seasons. Draped in Chelsea merchandise from head to toe, including home jogging bottoms with Chelsea crests embroidered, he can be found starting chants, banging his drum and waving his flags (plural) to support the players.
Carter recalls the first time she saw Basil when Chelsea lost the Continental Cup final to Manchester City in 2022: “He just came out of nowhere and was just on the stairs, jumping up and down, cheering and waving his flag. He brings the same energy from minute one to the end of the game, every game, whether that’s a sold-out Champions League or a game with around 300 people.
“Obviously all our fans are great but maybe it’s just starting to come into the game recently to see the passion the fans have for the women’s game. I think our fans are very different – women’s football and men’s football. We love that it’s so family oriented, it’s also so friendly. But hearing that extra passion from the fans helps us go the extra mile.”
They will need it against Arsenal.
