AGGIE Beever-Jones admitted there was an “element of revenge” ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League showdown against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
The Blues were beaten 8-2 on aggregate by Barca in last seasons’s semi-finals before the Catalan side lost the final 1-0 to Arsenal.
It was the third year in a row Chelsea had lost to Barcelona in the semi-finals.
“I think we look back to that game, on aggregate, it wasn’t a scoreline we felt reflected the matches,’ Beever-Jones said. “They had some chances, and they were so clinical, while we didn’t put our chances away.
“So there is always that element of revenge, and we want to right those wrongs. Credit to Barcelona, they are an incredible team, and they’re flying at the moment. But to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that’s something that we are willing to do at Chelsea and give it our all.”
Striker Beever-Jones, 22, grew up near Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham. She knows being a Chelsea player means being involved in huge games.
“For me, this is an historic fixture,” she said. “Barcelona are known for being one of the best teams in the world, and being a Chelsea fan growing up, it was always an exciting game to watch.
“Playing for Chelsea now, it’s every year, you have to face them at some point, so it’s always an exciting game. Hopefully, we can right some wrongs from previous years and come into the game fighting and ready to prove a point.
‘My role always stays the same. To give the best of myself. To take the opportunity to play well, perform and help the team.
“I try not to think about it too much, so that I don’t get in my own head, but playing in these big games is always what you dream of as a little kid. It’s where the most fans are, and where the most atmosphere is. Hopefully, we can show what we can do individually and collectively.
“Having dropped points against Twente, which was obviously frustrating for us, to get back into winning form would be great, especially against a top team. Obviously, Barcelona are currently top of the Women’s Champions League table.
“We know it’s not going to be an easy game by any means, but we have to prepare and look at their weaknesses, see where we can exploit that, but equally focus on ourselves and our strengths.
“It will definitely give Barcelona a little bit of something different to think about if they drop some points and we win. Hopefully, we’ll go into the game well-equipped and come away with three points.”
