'We're not indestructible' - Millie Bright opens up on decision to snub England duties for Euro 2025 with Chelsea star finally prioritising own mental health after tough campaign

Bright has now opened up on dealing with mental health issues as she explained the reason behind her decision not to participate in the European championship in Switzerland this summer.

Speaking to reporters, the 31-year-old said: "There’s more than just England under consideration when it came to that decision. There’s me being able to walk down the stairs after I’ve played 90 minutes of football, there’s me in the future when I have children being able to walk around properly, being able to bend down and pick up toys, there’s me being able to do normal life things like put on socks without being in pain and, for the first time in a long time, I genuinely didn’t think about the response of the public because that just wasn’t a priority.

"For the first time in a long time, I’m not thinking about anyone else. I’m actually thinking about myself and, to be honest, it sounds savage, I wasn’t really bothered how the public would react. When you’re in the spotlight sometimes you make decisions that are best for the people around you and in this situation it was a decision purely based on what’s best for Millie: what’s best for my mind, what’s best for my mental health and what’s best for my knee. I needed to get that surgery and I have to think about my longevity too and I have to think about competing next season for Chelsea in a jam-packed squad where my position could quite easily be taken away."

Bright added: "I’m really grateful for the response and everyone that has said how brave it was and that it’s allowed people to take a little bit of confidence for if they need to make that decision. As an athlete, first and foremost, you are a human, you’re not an object. We’re not indestructible, we do break, our minds break, our bodies break, and I had to make a decision that was best for me at that moment."

Sarina Wiegman's side began their title defence on a disappointing note as they went down 2-1 against France in a pulsating Group D opener. The Lionesses will next face the Netherlands in a must-win clash on Wednesday.