‘I’m doing what I love again’ – Chelsea’s Macário feeling good ahead of Conti Cup final | OneFootball

Chelsea forward Catarina Macário says that she is in a really good place as she prepares to appear in her first major cup final since making her return from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.

The United States international joined Chelsea last summer but long-term injury meant that she didn’t make her debut for The Blues until the start of this month.

Chelsea face Arsenal in the 2023/2024 FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup final this afternoon. Ahead of the showpiece, WSL Full-Time sat down Macário, as she reflected on what has been a gruelling 22 months on the sidelines. The forward spoke with a full heart on how she found the 641 days spent on the sidelines.

“How did I get through it? My friends and family, they were really supportive,” Macário said. “I felt like I was barely alone last year, which was very nice, it was a good distraction when things weren’t going so well. I feel very lucky and blessed in that sense.”

After a gruelling period spent sidelined from the sport she loves most, Macário picked up from where she left off, scoring just four minutes into her return to top flight football in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Everton in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Digesting what that moment felt like for her, Macário reflected gratefully on the moments that have led up to her return.

She said “It all still feels so surreal. Just the fact that it took so long and now it’s like, ‘okay, I’m doing what I love again’. It’s an amazing feeling.

“It was a really complicated journey. I feel like Chelsea took their time in order to make sure that we got it right and I was able to feel good and be able to contribute the right way. That’s all I’ve been wanting to do basically since I signed.”

After sealing her move from Olympique Lyonnais to Chelsea last summer, the player completed the bulk of her rehabilitation with the Barclays Women’s Super League side. Commenting on the recovery process, Macário praised Chelsea for their unconditional support throughout the difficult moments.

She said “There were so many times last year when I was like ‘this sucks, it’s not going well’, but they [Chelsea] made me feel really reassured and supported. It’s kind of a process and they’ve been there for me every step of the way and taking really good care of me. I know I can’t see everything that they’re doing, but everything that I do is for them, honestly.

“You never want to come into a club being injured. It did feel like ‘When am I going to be able to play? Will I ever be able to play?’ Being able to play at that level again, there was definitely a lot of doubts. Now everything just feels like a dream, kind of like a miracle. For that, I’m just grateful to be on the pitch and for the rest I’m just like, ‘let’s have fun!'”

As European club competitions begin to reach their conclusions over the coming months, Macário finds herself in a unique situation in comparison to her club teammates. As Emma Hayes draws the final line under her managerial career with The Blues to undertake a new voyage with the United States Women’s National Team, Macário saves having to say goodbye to her short stint under her reign.

“I am honestly very grateful of the fact that she [Hayes] recruited me to come to Chelsea,” the forward said. “I feel like even though I’ve just started to play for her and started to be part of the team, I do feel like we go way back. Even when she was recruiting me she was like, take your time. She’s just been tremendous in general.”

Chelsea are set to challenge for their first piece of silverware of the season this afternoon when they face Arsenal in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup final. Despite Chelsea having to compete in four different competitions at the business end of the season, Macário assured that The Blues’ focus will be 100 percent dialled in on this afternoon’s clash.

She said “Everyone knows it’s a big game, it’s a big derby. At the end of the day, you want to win every single game, every single trophy that you can. No matter who it’s against, no matter what the game, we want to win that.

“I don’t think they need to tell me how much it means, that’s just something where we are all competitors and every single day [we] want to win, dominate and really set the Chelsea standard.”

Commenting on the heavy fixture schedule for The Blues, Macário digested how her prolonged spell on the sidelines has shifted her perspective with regard to her personal preparation for ‘big games’.

She said “It’s interesting because before the injury, I’d say for big games I would be really nervous and like, ‘I don’t want to mess up’.  Sometimes, I almost got too much in my own head where I wouldn’t be able to perform really. I feel like now, since the injury, I’m just grateful to be on the pitch again and just to have legs and be able to move about.

“Obviously, I know it’s a big game, but I personally don’t really think about it anymore. I’m just like ‘well, it’s a 90-minute game, we’ve been preparing for it. Let’s just have some fun and let the best team win’.”

The 2023/2024 FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup final kicks-off at 3pm this afternoon. Tickets remain available and can be purchased by clicking here.