Exclusive: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd says she has a lot more to prove at Chelsea ahead of new WSL campaign | OneFootball

For Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, wearing the Chelsea shirt is a source of immense pride and fulfilment, and she is ready to embrace the future at her “home.”

The Sweden international has enjoyed a glittering spell in west London, winning the Women’s Super League in each of her three seasons at the club. Chelsea are now chasing a remarkable seventh consecutive league title, having completed a historic domestic treble last year.

Reflecting on her time at the club, Rytting Kaneryd expressed her pride in representing Chelsea and the significance of wearing the badge.

“I’m very proud to be a Chelsea player and for everything that this club stands for,” the 28-year-old said. “As a kid growing up, this was all I ever wished for.

“If you play for Chelsea, you know what it means. And I think you can never relax or take anything for granted. I’m so proud to wear this badge.

“For everyone in this team, it’s always a privilege to go out and play. And the mentality that we all have is super important and it’s something different from other teams.”

Since joining in 2022, Rytting Kaneryd has collected three league titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup.

While Chelsea dominated domestically under Sonia Bompastor last season, going unbeaten in the WSL to become the first club to complete a 22-game invincible campaign, the Champions League continues to elude them.

For Rytting Kaneryd, however, the journey at Chelsea is far from over. She signed a contract extension over the summer until 2027.

“This place feels like home for me,” she said. “And I’m not finished here, I still have a lot of improvement to do as a football player.

“I feel like I’ve been growing a lot, both as a player and as a person. So, I’m very much looking forward to these two years, and hopefully I can bring even more to this club.”

Asked what makes Chelsea’s squad unique, she pointed to the togetherness and ambition that runs through the team.

“It’s hard to explain,” she said. “It’s just a feeling in this squad, in the whole team. Something you can’t really explain. It’s a winning mentality, first of all.

“We also really enjoy spending time together and I think that’s key for any team to succeed. And then we’re always striving for more. We’re never happy or satisfied and we always want to reach for more. And I think this mentality is super important in a team like this.”

The Champions League remains the ultimate goal, and Rytting Kaneryd believes consistency will be crucial if Chelsea are to finally lift the trophy.

“Of course, it’s ups and downs,” she added. “But I think we need to be more consistent in the way we play.

“Last year we had a few games where maybe we weren’t playing at our best. But we still managed to win somehow. And I think if we can take more steps and be more like this, and not up and down, then we can be more efficient as well.

“I think that’s the key in the Champions League.”

Much of Chelsea’s progress is being shaped by Bompastor, who made history as the first person to win the Champions League as both a player and a manager with Lyon. Rytting Kaneryd was full of praise for her influence after her first season in charge.

“I feel like everything she does is so professional,” she said. “Every training session, every meeting. It’s always striving for more.

“She has that mentality that always strives for more and is never satisfied. Of course, she’s happy when we win and have a good performance, but there are always things we can improve.”