Chelsea’s Flaherty ready for semi-final

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Gilly Flaherty believes this weekend’s FA Women’s Cup semi-final against her former club Arsenal Ladies is the ideal test for Chelsea’s new-look side.

Flaherty was one of eight new faces recruited by Blues manager Emma Hayes ahead of the new season, as was fellow ex-Arsenal midfielder Katie Chapman.

So far it appears to be working, with Chelsea unbeaten in six games this season, a run of fixtures that includes five wins and one draw, including two victories over last season’s FA Women’s Super League runners up Bristol Academy and a 3-1 win at big-spending Manchester City.

This Sunday Chelsea face Arsenal at Woking’s Kingfield Stadium with the winners set to face Notts County or Everton Ladies in the final at Milton Keynes Dons’ Stadium MK on June 1.

“It would mean everything to reach the FA Cup final with Chelsea,” said Flaherty.

“It’s not about beating Arsenal as they are my old tea. When you step on the field they are just another team stopping you achieving your goals and I’ve said to the girls here losing a semi-final is one of the hardest things to take.

“A lot of the girls here haven’t won trophies before and are excited to get to a semi, but I’ve won and lost and emotionally the defeats don’t go away, they stay with you and drive you on.

“I think we are the underdogs going in to the game as Arsenal are used to winning, but we need to go out there and show what we can do as this is a club built to win things and this would be the perfect way to show this team can achieve that.

“Both teams are going through a time of transition and despite our good start we certainly won’t write them off as you know what Arsenal are capable of.  But we don’t fear them and will be confident going in to the game.”

The FA Women’s Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Arsenal takes place on Sunday May 11 at 2pm at Woking FC’s Kingfield Stadium. For more information and tickets visit http://www.chelseafc.com/chelsea-ladies

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