Manager Emma Hayes is pleased Chelsea have their Champions League fate in their own hands ahead of their Group A game with Vllaznia.
The Blues make the trip to Albania knowing a point against the already-eliminated Vllaznia will confirm their place in the knockout stage. Only a defeat combined with Real Madrid beating Paris Saint-Germain would mean Chelsea's fate would be settled on the final day.
And Hayes urged her side to complete the job on Friday evening, also stating that her team would not underestimate their opponents, who sit bottom of the group after losing all five of their matches to date.
"We’re happy to be in a position where it’s within our control," said Hayes. "That’s all we ask for. This game, we have the opportunity to get three points. If we get three points, we get the opportunity to qualify. I’d much rather we’re in a position where that is in our hands rather than the opponents.
"We’re happy to be in that place. We need to be the top professionals that we are, to make sure we’re ready for the things they’ve worked on."
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Chelsea thrashed Vllaznia 8-0 in the reverse fixture at Kingsmeadow back in October, with Sam Kerr helping herself to four goals. However, the Albanians have looked tougher at home, with Real Madrid only coming away with a 2-0 win after a hard-fought contest when they visited.
And Hayes is expecting a much tougher game with Chelsea this time the visitors. The Blues coach, who is unbeaten since returning to the touchline last month following a break due to surgery, isn't taking anything for granted as her side look to rubber-stamp their place in the knockout stage, which commences after Christmas.
"I remember being at home watching them when they played Real Madrid here (in Albania)," she added. "And they were really stubborn to break down. It’s a different game away from home and it’s something we’re prepared for.
"We have to expect that they would have learned through their European journey, so I think this is a different game away from home."
In-form Chelsea have won 12 and drawn one match in all competitions since losing to Liverpool back in September. However, they showed they aren't invincible in their last outing, when lowly Reading nearly took home a point from Kingsmeadow after trailing 3-0 at half-time in the Women's Super League.
The defending league champions eventually held on to win 3-2 despite a nervy second half. However, Hayes insists her team will maintain concentration when they return to European action on Friday evening.
"We were 3-0 up and in a really strong position," she added. "And it was five minutes of sustained pressure that as a team we didn’t manage particularly well."
"But, overall, I think we played really well against Reading. As a team, we always expect the best all of the time and over the years we’ve had in this competition, it’s been no different. We want to produce our best performances in every game we play."
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