Just over three months ago The FA WSL 1 campaign ended, but the Blues have been busy in the winter months, snapping up a number of new additions ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Defender Niamh Fahey, attacker Gemma Davison and midfielder Millie Bright have joined from Arsenal, Liverpool and Doncaster Rovers Belles respectively - and goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl and striker Marija Banusic have also joined the squad from clubs in their native Sweden.
Opening FA WSL fixtures
Notts County v Chelsea
5pm, Sunday 29 March 2015
Bristol Academy Women v Chelsea
7pm, Thursday 2 April 2015
Chelsea v Liverpool
2pm, Sunday 19 April 2015
“It’s nice to be back with all the girls. We have had nearly four months off so it was nice to come back in,” centre back Flaherty said after returning to training ahead of her second season at the club.
“I recognise a couple of the new girls - Gemma and Niamh from my time at Arsenal - and now it’s great to be back in and doing what we all love best which is training.
“The two Swedish girls that have come in have settled in and integrated in the team. They have joined in with our banter.”
Flaherty and her colleagues returned to the training pitch on Monday – but the new girls were not coming in as strangers.
“We had a little team bonding session on Sunday,” she explained. “We went out for a meal and played some table tennis. That was nice to break the ice and get everyone integrated. All the new girls have settled in with how we play and are learning our culture as well. It’s going really well.”
As with most top athletes nowadays, Flaherty has been maintaining her fitness during the break – keeping her conditioning levels high through working with a Team GB sprinter coach.
And that has put her in good stead to start preparations for the upcoming season under boss Emma Hayes.
“We haven’t been going straight in and doing loads and loads of running which is a lot of people’s myths about pre-season,’ the 24-year-old told ChelseaFC.com.
“For us it’s been all ball work, small-sided games, working on our pressing and then getting into a game practise. That’s what going to be relevant when it comes to matches – it’s game-related.
“It’s been all about doing fitness but with the ball at our feet, and that’s what we all want to do – have the ball at our feet.”
The fixtures for the 2015 FA WSL in association with BT Sport season were released on Monday, with Chelsea travelling to Notts County in their opener.
