Cuthbert daring to dream of Champions League glory

Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert is allowing herself to dream of winning a first Women's Champions League trophy ahead of facing Ajax in the quarter-finals.

The Blues — who head to the Johan Cruyff Arena for the first leg on Tuesday — are aiming to become the first English side to win Europe's top prize since Arsenal in 2007.

A European triumph would be the perfect way to bid farewell to manager Emma Hayes, who will leave to take over the United States this summer.

Hayes, 47, was part of the coaching staff during Arsenal's 2007 Champions League triumph but has never won the competition during her trophy-laden spell in West London.

Cuthbert said: "It would mean everything to get to the final and to go on and win it. But you know, I've been at this club so long, it’s all about a process.

"I think we're in the quarter-finals now and it's two ties that lie ahead. Two tough games against a really tough team who have more than proved themselves at this level.

"So I think we're under no illusions, it’s going to be a tough game tomorrow, but of course it's hard not to dream a little bit.

"You are a football player, but at the same time I've been so well-drilled under Emma that it is very process-oriented."

The defending Women's Super League champions, who are currently first in the English top flight, have reached the Champions League semi-finals stage on four occasions under Hayes.

And Cuthbert, 25, hopes experience will give the West Londoners the edge over Ajax, who are just the second Dutch side to reach this stage after Saestrum in 2006-07.

The Scotland international added: "It's their first time at this point in the competition.

"We can certainly use our experience as an advantage, [but] I certainly know that if I was in the competition for the first time, I'd be playing without fear.

"We need to be wary of that as well. They've got nothing to lose and we've got everything to lose, so we'll be giving it everything."