Millie Bright, a 32-year-old defender with 88 England caps, withdrew from England's Euro 2025 squad because she could not give 100% mentally or physically after a heavy Chelsea season in which she made 36 appearances and helped win a domestic treble. Bright had been ignoring ongoing issues during the club campaign but realised after FA Cup success that she needed a break to avoid reaching a breaking point. She underwent successful knee surgery and began counselling over the summer. Bright now reports feeling back to life and mentally and physically better ahead of the new WSL season.
"You get into that mindset where nothing comes between what it takes to win," she told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast. "It's like an engine, you just keep going. "When the season ended, when you finally allow yourself to relax it hits you and I was like, 'I just need to take a minute otherwise I am on the verge of a breakdown'. "For the first time in a long time I figured out where I was at mentally and I couldn't even think about the Euros. That was a big indicator that I needed to back off a little bit and just breathe. For the first time I made a decision for me and not to please other people."
"Taking the decision in the summer was by far the best decision I have ever made and one that I am actually really proud of because it is not easy by any means."
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