Chelsea resistance offers hope for return leg despite might of Barcelona

A defeat to Barcelona once more in the Champions League will, in the immediate aftermath, feel like a blow for Chelsea and their fans. However, a gritty performance and 1-0 loss at the hands of the team so many consider the best in Europe should fill Chelsea with plenty of encouragement for the second leg at Camp Nou on Thursday.

It is well known that this is the one title Emma Hayes and her team desperately desire, the final missing piece in their trophy cabinet. They have come close, losing 4-0 to Barcelona in the 2021 final, and the heartbreak of that day lives long in the memory.

Those feelings will have felt even keener when Caroline Graham Hansen strode forward in the fourth minute to unleash a sumptuous finish past Ann-Katrin Berger. A sense of dejá-vu to that final when the Blues conceded in the first minute and then fell apart.

That disintegration never happened on Saturday as the English champions regrouped and defended resolutely despite intense pressure from the visitors. That is why it will be crucial for Hayes to emphasise the positives of their performance. Whether it be the undeniable progression of individual players, such as Jess Carter or Niamh Charles, or the resilience of the back-three, makeshift in its nature due to injuries to Kadeisha Buchanan and Millie Bright, there will be plenty to draw on over the next few days.

It has been more than 700 days since that final and Chelsea have been amassing a squad to take on the challenge and finally bring the trophy back to London. The development of this side, one Hayes has named the “best squad she’s ever had” was clear to see.

Carter is the epitome of this improvement. Two years ago, the young England defender had a torrid time at that final in