‘Each game matters so much’, says Kadeisha Buchanan ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League battle with Barcelona
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LIFTING a Women’s Champions League trophy in Chelsea’s famous blue shirt would be Kadeisha Buchanan’s “all moment”.
The Canada centre-back, 28, has had plenty of experience of winning the top club prize for Europe’s elite women’s football sides.
With French giants Lyon, whom she left two years ago in June for the Blues, Buchanan has triumphed in the competition on five separate occasions.
Her old side currently hold the record for the most trophy wins in the tournament’s 23-year history, having won it eight times previously.
The highly coveted prize remains the only major honour to elude Chelsea who, under boss Emma Hayes, have won more WSL titles than any English side.
Buchanan, who netted in the Blues’ 3-0 Wednesday night defeat of Aston Villa, said: "That's what I came here for.
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"To win a Champions League in the blue shirt. That would be my ‘all’ moment.
"It’s exciting but you have to take it one game at a time.
"I think we're doing a great job doing that, just focusing on each game and each game being like a championship because at the end of the day it is.
"Each game matters so much and you just focus on one step at a time.
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With an FA Cup semis loss to Manchester United ending Chelsea dreams of a silverware triple this term, hopes of a double rest with their Champions League and WSL title hunt.
Today Buchanan and her team-mates will begin the formidable task of attempting to knock out two-time winners Barcelona over two legs in this year’s semis.
The Catalan juggernauts - unbeaten in Spain's top tier with 22 wins in 23 games and 102 goals - have been a nemesis for the English league leaders in recent years.
The team defeated Hayes’s side 4-0 in their first Champions League final foray three years ago.
However, their last four knockout of Chelsea last April was a much tighter affair scoreline-wise.
A 2-1 win on aggregate sealed their progress to a June final where they battled from 2-0 down to beat Wolfsburg 3-2.
The second half of this season, and Hayes’s last before her reign as USA Women’s boss starts, has seen Chelsea battle for silverware with some key players absent.
Long-term injuries have sidelined strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fischel with both recovering from anterior cruciate ligament ruptures.
But the team have been given a fitness boost with Hayes confirming Lauren James and centre-back and skipper Millie Bright as available for selection.
Forward James, currently second highest goal scorer in the WSL this term, missed her team's win against Villa on Wednesday due to injury.
And Bright returned to training following a five-month absence with a knee concern.
Buchanan believes the depth and calibre of Chelsea's squad will be key to their push for trophies, including a seventh WSL title, in the final weeks of the season.
The defender, who has made 14 WSL and European appearances this term, added: "We always have that confidence and belief that whoever is out on the field is well capable of getting the job done.
"Even if they didn't play three or four games, or even if they didn't start five or 10 games, when they're out on the field, you trust them to get the job done.
"I feel that as for myself as well, if you don't always start, that doesn't matter.
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"You can still just go play football and get the job done just like any other player."
Barcelona vs Chelsea will be streamed live on DAZN's Women's Champions League channel on YouTube at 12:30pm