Being a goalkeeper comes with pressure. Not only are you responsible for keeping out goals, keeping a close eye on every performance or mistake, there is always someone on the bench waiting to take your place, with only one spot on the pitch.
At the moment, Zecira Musovic is that person at Chelsea. Hannah Hampton is the designated No. 1 in the WSL, but the Sweden international remains a presence in European and cup competitions and is ready when needed.
It's not always the most comfortable of situations – every player wants to be the go-to person – but Musovic thrives and shines when the pressure is on both on and off the pitch.
“I know what I am capable of and I know who I am. I know what I stand for as a person and as a goalkeeper,” she told Sky Sports exclusively.
“I have a great belief in myself. I know I can doubt myself, but I still know what to do when I'm exposed at different times. I know I'm very good under pressure. I think I'll get the best results most.
“It's something I've been working on for a long time. I started working with a psychologist when I was 16 years old and not because I was bad, it was just to get tools and get to know myself better, how I work in different situations, so when I find myself in those challenging moments, I know how to handle myself.
“That helped me a lot, because it won't always be sunny days.
“I follow my own process because there are so many people who want their opinions on you and you have to have that belief in your own path to success. That includes different parts of the game: the technical, the physical, the mental. That is something that I continue to improve every day, regardless of the results.
“I have my goals, both short-term and long-term, and that is something that I follow strictly. That has also made it possible for me to still perform, even if it was not an easy road to that last stretch .”
One way Musovic has helped her reflexes and agility on target is through the use of BlazePods – a range of innovative light pods that test reaction times and aid better spatial awareness and fitness.
“I was introduced to BlazePods a few years ago,” she said. “Being a very curious person and wanting to know how to develop myself, I started thinking, 'how can I improve my cognitive thinking', which is a big part of goalkeeping?
“When I saw BlazePods, I thought, 'This is a really simple thing that allows me to work on the cognitive part of my game.'
“We don't talk enough about the brain as a muscle and how we can improve that, both to be mentally strong in our thoughts, but also how to make decisions faster. That's really what goalkeeping is all about: how fast can you make a goal? decision and how good can you get it to hopefully save the ball? So that's something I really appreciate.”
At Chelsea it's all about the winning mentality and being the best you can be. Under new manager Sonia Bompastor, the Blues are unbeaten in all competitions this season as they look to add more silverware to an already bulging cupboard.
“I have had the privilege of working with several coaches and I think they are all unique in their way of working. One thing I have in common is that they are extreme winners,” Musovic reflected.
“Sonia is a coach who is very intense. She is a winner, she is ambitious, she knows what she wants, she is very demanding and I love all those qualities. As a coach she is at the forefront of how Chelsea should behave.”
“We don't think about the fact that we won a lot, that's just something that's okay. To be able to win year after year, you have to have the mentality that it's not enough: what happened, happened. ” Now it's next.
“We are happy that we have already won many competitions and many trophies, but that will not lead us to the next one. You have to work hard, stay humble and keep challenging yourself every day to find another level in you, because If we don't, someone else will – and we hate to lose.”
This drive to get better every day is something that is pushing Musovic to consider a career in coaching or something similar once she retires. The 28-year-old has already achieved her UEFA A License, joining the likes of Beth Mead and Steph Houghton in the first all-female cohort.
“I'm really enjoying the course. I got new glasses so I can see the game,” she said. “Coaching and goalkeeping are basically the same when you play for a winning team because you stand there and see the whole picture.
“You think: 'How would I position my players? How can we get to a certain area where it is open because the opponents don't cover it? Or how do the opponents behave?' That's something the course has helped me with to gain a better understanding of the game and how to really coach your team.
“I see myself in the management of the game, whether that's sporting director, general manager or head coach. I'm curious – just as I add layers to my player profile in the different aspects of the game, this is my way of adding layers to add after my playing career.
“I can't really say I want to be a coach. If you asked me a few years ago it would definitely be a no. I would say, 'Ah, when I stop playing I want to have my weekends off. ' “I want to have my schedule that I know in advance,” but now I'm getting a little curious.
“I like the thought of being able to build a team and reach the full potential of the individuals within the team and how you can make sure that everyone feels valued and valued and has a clear role. That's something where I am passionate about.
“It [the all-female course] is something that shows that the English FA values the sport and the women in it. You have players like Beth Mead, Lia Walti, Kim Little, Steph Houghton – great players with so much knowledge and expertise.
“To lose that after their playing career would be so sad. That's such a waste of everything those people have done over such a long period of time, so to continue that after their playing career would be great for everyone. “
One match that will test Musovic and Chelsea's entire mentality is Sunday's WSL match against Arsenal. The Gunners, under recently appointed boss Renee Slegers, are undefeated on their own merits and currently sit second in the table.
“It will be an interesting match,” the goalkeeper said about the match. “They have a team that is at the same level as our team, great players. But somehow in the first part of the season they didn't manage to click, which I think they have now have done.”
“We love playing at Stamford Bridge, not least when the crowd is there. We want to play in front of a crowd, whether that's at Kingsmeadow or Stamford Bridge or wherever, I want us to fill stadiums .”
“That's what we deserve and that's where we're going. It's the best feeling when you go there, you hear all the noise, you see all the blue flags and you're a proud supporter of the women's game because you're on this path where we didn't actually have anyone in the stands – maybe a few people and mom and dad.
“It's such a great and proud feeling to be selling out stadiums now. Then you stand there as a player and you think: 'This is what you trained for, this is what all these hard hours are going towards: leading us' up to this moment'.”
Follow Chelsea Women vs Arsenal Women on Sky Sports' digital platforms. Watch the highlights from the free play of the match later on Sunday.
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