Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor believes her strong personality and will to succeed come from having to fight to play football when she was younger.
Bompastor, who was the first woman to win the Champions League as a player and manager with Lyon, said French attitudes and prejudice towards women playing the sport spurred her on.
“I wanted to fight against this idea that if you were a girl you couldn’t play football,” she told BBC Sport.
“After that I worked so hard but I enjoyed it so much. At around 18 I realised maybe I could have a good career in my life with football.
“Not a career thinking about winning money, more about enjoying and playing at a high level.”
The 44-year-old has gone on to have a glittering career, winning 11 major trophies during two spells at Lyon as a player before claiming three straight league titles and the 2021-22 Champions League trophy as manager.
Despite Emma Hayes’ success during her 12-year tenure at Chelsea, which yielded 13 major titles, Bompastor’s transition at the club has appeared seamless.
The Blues have won each of their opening two Women’s Super League matches, while they claimed a 3-2 win over Real Madrid in their first Champions League group-stage game on Tuesday.
However, they face a tough test against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in the league on Saturday, in a game which is live on BBC One from 13:15 BST.
“Results have been good but this game will be different. It’s a derby. You have to be prepared,” said Bompastor, who has been impressed with the competitiveness of the WSL.
“The competition between the clubs is so big, so strong. I think something was missing in France, even if France has clubs competing at the highest level if you take Lyon and PSG.
“Here, every weekend you don’t take anything for granted and you have to fight to win the games so this is really good.”
‘Coming to Chelsea the right decision’
Bompastor said she has settled into life at Chelsea “really well” since her move from France and that choosing the Blues was the “right decision”.
“This club has so much ambition, it is aligned with my vision and my philosophy and it is just the right place for me and for my staff,” she said.
Bompastor has four children and admitted she did have doubts about whether she could combine motherhood with such a high-profile career.
“In the beginning, I started to think it was not possible to be a mum of four kids and have a big job responsibility,” she said.
“Now, having the opportunity to act on that, I am so proud and I want to say as a mum and a manager, to everyone who wants to have these two big jobs – it’s possible.
“You just have to believe in your dreams, believe in it as a woman and work hard and go for it.”