In Focus: Cuthbert keen to make difference in FA Cup final showdown

Erin Cuthbert believes she can step up and take control of Sunday's Women's FA Cup final showdown with Manchester United at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.

The Chelsea midfielder is looking to win three consecutive Doubles with the Blues after scoring in last year's final win over Manchester City.

Since transitioning from defence to midfield this term, the 24-year-old has tallied seven goal contributions in 15 Women's Super League appearances and is ready to make her mark on Sunday.

She said: "I would love to be the difference maker and I like to think that I'm one of the players that feels like I can take the game by the scruff of the neck.

"I want to be on that battlefield fighting for everyone else and I think Emma [Hayes] has been drilling that mentality into everyone this season."

Ready for battle

Chelsea have beaten WSL title rivals United twice already this season but Cuthbert insists there is not much to split the two clubs on the pitch.

The No22 said: "I think we're going into the game with two teams who are very evenly matched.

"I respect Manchester United. I think what they've done is brilliant. Their resilience to bounce back from last year when they just missed out on the Champions League and to want to grow is amazing. 

"When the margins are so small it is going to be a mentality thing about who turns up on the day and doesn't let the game and the occasion get the better of them.

"When you've not won anything, you've got a certain hunger and desire to get there and we need to match that as a bare minimum if we want to compete and win this battle."

Fuel to the fire

Chelsea have been the dominant force in English football for several years but teams like United appear to be catching up to them when it comes to recruitment and development.

But Cuthbert is using that as motivation during the big games, saying: "I think everybody expects the winning team to slip up, so it's our job to keep proving that we're still at the top.

"Having a target on your back each season requires you to adapt and change the way you play because everybody starts to figure you out in every single game. 

"Winning is a core part of our Chelsea team so we want to win everything. Being able to refine and add every year is going to be really important to stay at the top because the gap is getting narrower."

Motivated by success

No matter the result on Sunday, Chelsea remain favourites to secure a fourth-straight WSL crown, a point behind leaders United, but with a game in hand.

And although their Scottish star has refused to contemplate the idea of losing in the capital, she did admit that the defeated side could lose momentum during the run-in.

She said: "Come Sunday, we have got to be winning the FA Cup and it would give us a great deal of momentum going into the league campaign. 

"We haven't let our Champions League exit derail our league season and the greatest thing about this team is that we bounce back up and we show ourselves in big moments.

"There are still two trophies at stake, so even if there's only one trophy up for grabs, then we'll do everything we can do to win that."

Cuthbert could win the FA Cup for the fourth time with victory at Wembley and keep the Blues' hopes of another historic double alive for a while longer.